Biden touts bipartisan infrastructure work in Kentucky next to McConnell

President Joe Biden visited a dilapidated bridge connecting Ohio and Kentucky to talk up the virtues of bipartisanship with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell while at the same time blasting House Republicans for an "embarrassing" scene of disarray that has kept the chamber from organising itself.

The Democratic president's trip to the Brent Spence Bridge, which is getting a federal facelift, comes as Washington is gripped by drama over the GOP's inability to unify behind a candidate for House speaker.

Biden, as he left the White House, said the chaos was "not a good look" for the country.

The election of a speaker is required before House members can be sworn in for the new congressional session.

"That’s not my problem," Biden said of the speaker vote. "I just think it’s really embarrassing it’s taking so long."

He added that "the rest of the world is looking" at the turmoil on the House floor while his focus is on "getting things done."

Biden's appearance with McConnell was meant to mark a renewed push by his administration to highlight the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law and to appeal to newly empowered Republicans to find additional areas of cooperation in the new Congress.

Democrats' stronger-than-expected showing in the midterms allowed their party to retain control of the Senate even as the House fell to Republicans.