Two advisers to President Obama demurred when asked repeatedly and specifically whether they agree with Obama’s claim that the European fiscal crisis is “the biggest headwind” slowing the U.S. economy.

Mike Froman, Deputy National Security Adviser on International Economic Affairs, would not endorse Obama’s assessment except to say, during yesterday’s press briefing, that European issues “affect us in the United States as well.” He did reiterate Obama’s point that “it’s quite important what happens at the G20 for the U.S. economy because we are so interconnected.”