At Thursday's National Prayer Breakfast, President Joe Biden put out a call for unity, urging Americans – and the lawmakers who represent them – to treat one another with more respect.
“In our politics and in our lives, we too often see each other as opponents and not competitors. We see each other as enemies, not neighbors," the president said. "And as tough as these times have been, if we look closer, we see the strength, the determination that has long defined America.”
"While we have profound differences the last two years, we’ve proven we can come together to do big things for the country, we can join hands and get things done," Biden said. "We can redeem the soul of America."
The president's comments came one day after a high-stakes meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy amid a looming debt ceiling debate. After weeks of trading barbs with one another, the California Republican on Wednesday expressed optimism that he and the president could find "common ground" on the issue.
Biden seemed to express a similar sentiment at Thursday's event.
"Let’s just sort of, kind of, join hands again a little bit, let's start treating each other with respect," the president said. "That's what Kevin and I are going to do. Not a joke. We had a good meeting yesterday."
"I think we got to do it across the board," he continued. "It doesn’t mean we’re going to agree and fight like hell. But let’s treat each other with respect."
True to his word, the president sat next to McCarthy at the event, who was flanked on his other side by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.
The president made the case on Thursday that Americans have more in common than not.
"My prayer for this prayer breakfast is we start to see each other again, look at each other again, travel with each other again, argue like hell with each other again but then still go to lunch together," the president said.
"I don't know how we do that anymore, but we have to," Biden said. "We have to start treating each other in ways different than we have, in my humble opinion."
The breakfast was held at the Capitol's visitor center, and the auditorium's 450 seats were packed with members of Congress, government officials and others.
Every president since Dwight D. Eisenhower has spoken at the breakfast, which in past years has been attended by thousands. For decades, the event was overseen by the International Foundation, a Christian organization that has drawn increasing scrutiny over the years.
Now the event is run by the National Prayer Breakfast Foundation, a new group led by former members of Congress. The International Foundation held its own event at a nearby hotel, where Biden's speech was being watched remotely.
Also present was Kari Lake, the Republican candidate for Arizona governor who lost her race in November but has refused to acknowledge her defeat. Biden has denounced election denial as a threat to American democracy.
Quoting Scripture, Biden said it was important to "love thy neighbor as thyself.”
“That's the hardest one, I think,” he said. "At least it's hardest here. It didn't used to be as hard. I've been here a long time. But it seems to be getting harder."