Optimistic President Joe Biden insists budget agreement ‘very close’

President Joe Biden said a deal to resolve the US government’s debt ceiling crisis was ‘very close’ as he left for Camp David (Susan Walsh/AP)

President Joe Biden said a deal to resolve the US government’s debt ceiling crisis was “very close”, hours after the deadline to reach an agreement had been pushed back four days.

As he left the White House to spend the Memorial Day weekend at Camp David on Friday, the president said: “There’s a negotiation going on. I’m hopeful we’ll know by tonight whether we’re going to be able to have a deal.