GOP leader warns that Biden will harm the US economy by not intervening in the dockworkers' port strike.

President Biden has been criticized by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., for not intervening in the dockworkers' port strike, which is expected to have a negative impact on American families already facing crippling inflation.

During "Fox & Friends," Scalise claimed that Biden's potential decision to allow the strike could harm the U.S. economy, stating that consumers would face even greater financial difficulties with rising costs as the ILA strike continues.

"Scalise stated that the president's decision to let the economy continue to deteriorate will result in a loss of over $5 billion per day, with costs continuing to rise for families already struggling under the Biden-Harris inflation economy. Food on the shelves will become increasingly scarce."

Biden has refused to use the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act to intervene in the strike, even though he could invoke it to impose an 80-day "cooling off" period for negotiations to resume while workers are back at work.

Since its six-year contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) expired Monday night, the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), representing 45,000 dockworkers, began its first strike since 1977.

The strike on the Gulf and East coasts has affected 36 ports, which handle 55% of all U.S. container traffic and large volumes of exports, including about half of U.S. pork and almost three-quarters of U.S. poultry. Additionally, about half of all imported fruits and vegetables come through these ports. In pharmaceuticals, nine out of 10 imports and seven out of 10 exports are being disrupted.

The union's demands related to wage hikes, compensation, and protection from automation at ports have resulted in a deadlock in negotiations between the ILA and USMX.

Despite demands from the ILA, Congress would not support a ban on automation, as argued by Scalise.

"When competing globally, we're not just competing one city against another," he stated. "Ports worldwide are heavily automated, yet still have human operators who manage the devices. These automated devices generate overtime earnings of more than $200,000 annually, and they want to shut down the economy to earn even more."

"What about the cost? It will only increase inflation further," he said. "Many families earning $50,000 a year are pleading for relief, but Biden and Harris remain indifferent, hoping prices continue to rise."

The president has been criticized for spending time at the beach during a national crisis, including the strike, Hurricane Helene's aftermath, and rising violence in the Middle East.

"Joe Biden is seen on the beach and comes to the White House whenever he desires. Kamala Harris is campaigning, and her Cabinet members are appearing on Sunday shows as allies. Who is currently running the country?"

"Scalise responded, "It's a terrifying thought. We passed bills to secure the southern border, but Joe Biden and Kamala Harris oppose it. We also have bills to produce our own American energy, yet they want to give Iran and Russia billions of dollars a month. The country will make its voice heard on this issue.""

""JD Vance's statement at the debate was the best, as he pointed out that Kamala Harris's first day was 1,400 days ago, and despite that, the world is still on fire, and Americans are struggling to put food on the table," he continued."

This report was contributed to by Eric Revell from FOX Business and E.J. Antoni from Planet Chronicle.