After weeks of private discussions, Biden confidently appeared before the cameras at the White House with both Democratic and Republican lawmakers to announce a $1.2 trillion infrastructure deal over eight years. This agreement could solidify his reputation as a bipartisan leader. While focusing on rebuilding roads and bridges with centrist senators, Biden also hinted at plans for a separate bill to address climate change, education, and other priorities supported only by Democrats. Despite his strong negotiating skills, Biden made a surprising statement during a press conference that he would not approve the compromise bill without the partisan one as well. "I will not just sign the bipartisan bill and move on," Biden's statement disrupted his moment of bipartisan pride. While this may have pleased liberals, it alarmed centrist senators and Republicans by suggesting that he may veto their bipartisan plan if a larger bill is not passed. Senator Susan Collins, a key negotiator, expressed surprise at this new condition, as they had always known there would be another bill but did not expect the two to be linked. The White House spent over 24 hours trying to repair the damage by reaching out to senators from both parties. On Friday, the president's spokesperson attempted to distance the administration from his remarks in a gentle manner. However, this was insufficient. By Saturday, as lawmakers and aides continued to be upset and the chances of a legislative victory seemed to diminish, Biden acknowledged that he had misspoken. The incident did not appear to have derailed the deal, but Biden confessed that his statements on Thursday gave the impression that he was threatening to veto the very plan he had just agreed to. He clarified that this was not his intention. The agreement that Biden had praised on Thursday initially seemed like a great success for a president who had promised voters he could achieve legislation that was both boldly progressive and widely bipartisan. It took weeks to put together a group of ten centrist senators led by Sens Rob Portman and Kyrsten Sinema, who were aiming to create a bipartisan framework similar to the one that led to the passage of a $900 billion coronavirus relief bill in December. Sinema mentioned that the easy decisions were quickly resolved, while the difficult issues required more time and effort. The talks were complicated by the possibility that liberal Democrats could use reconciliation to avoid the filibuster threshold. Tensions rose during meetings, leading to the involvement of key Biden advisers such as Steve Ricchetti, Brian Deese, and Louisa Terrell. They spent several days negotiating in the Capitol, with Sinema even participating despite breaking her foot during a marathon and having to use crutches. They often ate pizza, salads, and wine in back rooms while haggling. Portman's hideaway became crowded, so a staffer from Sen Mitt Romney's office had to get a fan. During a late-night session, Ricchetti poured wine for each senator. Tempers flared as they debated how to fund the framework without increasing taxes or using user fees for drivers. Many of the centrist senators attended a funeral for former Sen John Warner before returning to the Capitol for more meetings focused on reaching bipartisan agreements. Senator Mark Warner, who was not related to John Warner but considered him a friend, pondered, "What would John Warner do?" He believed that John Warner would have persevered. Almost everyone in the room had similar thoughts. By around 7 pm, the ten senators had reached a consensus and announced that they had a framework in place and would be meeting at the White House the following day. The plan was to move forward together. After weeks of behind-the-scenes discussions, this was seen as a positive moment for President Biden, who had faced doubts from his own party about his ability to navigate tough legislative negotiations. By reaching a bipartisan agreement, Biden's team hoped to gain the support of centrist Democratic senators for a larger bill aimed at addressing various liberal priorities, including paid leave, poverty, and climate change, all funded by tax increases on corporations and the wealthy. Some Republicans, encouraged by business leaders, wanted to block the larger bill by convincing moderate Democrats that the more limited infrastructure bill was sufficient. Lawmakers and Biden saw it as an important opportunity to demonstrate that the government could still operate effectively. Senator Jon Tester warned that failure would only highlight the dysfunction of the government. Senator Warner emphasized the importance of the message it would send to both the American people and other countries, especially in the wake of the events of January 6th. Progressive lawmakers were concerned that the limited bill would prevent a larger bill from being passed. On Thursday morning, Senator Chuck Schumer reassured them on the Senate floor by outlining the plan he and Speaker Nancy Pelosi had worked out with the president. Schumer emphasized that both efforts are connected and Pelosi agrees that they must be done together. It is understood that both initiatives need enough votes to pass. Biden also expressed his commitment to working with Pelosi and Schumer to ensure both move through the legislative process simultaneously. Biden surprised Democrats by saying he wanted both the bipartisan infrastructure measure and the bigger Democratic bill to come to him at the same time, adding that he would not sign only one of them if that was the case. "It's happening simultaneously." Senators left Washington for a two-week recess on Thursday afternoon for Fourth of July, and it wasn't until later that evening that some negotiators saw Biden's comments, which Republicans viewed as an implicit veto threat. Senators and staff members began communicating with each other and the White House. Liberal Democrats dismissed the Republican frustration and accused them of seeking an excuse to oppose the deal, despite the Democrats' public pursuit of reconciliation. On Saturday, Biden admitted his error as lawmakers and aides indicated they would continue with drafting text and gaining support. "In the end," he stated. "I made a promise to back the infrastructure plan, and I plan to follow through on that promise. I am committed to pushing for the passage of the plan, which both Democrats and Republicans agreed upon on Thursday, with determination. It would benefit the economy, our country, and our citizens. I support it wholeheartedly and without any doubts."