WASHINGTON, May 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday hailed a tentative agreement on raising the nation's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling as "an important step forward," and characterized it as a compromise that nevertheless protected Democrats' key priorities.

"The agreement represents a compromise, which means not everyone gets what they want," he said in a statement. "That's the responsibility of governing." (Writing by Tim Ahmann; Editing by Ismail Shakil)