Democrat President Joe Biden was slammed Saturday afternoon on social media after he tried to blame high gas prices on gas stations and demanded that they immediately lower the prices that they are charging at the pump.
Biden’s absurd claim comes after NBC News reported earlier this year that gas stations make “15 cents a gallon on average, according to the National Association of Convenience Stores.”
“My message to the companies running gas stations and setting prices at the pump is simple: this is a time of war and global peril,” Biden tweeted. “Bring down the price you are charging at the pump to reflect the cost you’re paying for the product. And do it now.”
My message to the companies running gas stations and setting prices at the pump is simple: this is a time of war and global peril.
Bring down the price you are charging at the pump to reflect the cost you’re paying for the product. And do it now.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 2, 2022
The cost of gasoline has been increasing for most of Biden’s presidency as his administration has continued to block drilling efforts, including a new report from this week about how the far-left administration “plans to block new offshore oil drilling in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans,” The Wall Street Journal reported.
Biden’s claim generated backlash and mockery online from a wide range of top business and political leaders.
“My message to the guy running your teleprompter: It’s YOUR fault,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) tweeted. “Reverse the dozens of executive orders, regulations & agency actions targeting American energy, and gas prices will fall…FAST. #Bidenflation”
My message to the guy running your teleprompter:
It’s YOUR fault.
Reverse the dozens of executive orders, regulations & agency actions targeting American energy, and gas prices will fall…FAST.#Bidenflation https://t.co/k6TcrR4xbn
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 3, 2022
“Ouch. Inflation is far too important a problem for the White House to keep making statements like this. It’s either straight ahead misdirection or a deep misunderstanding of basic market dynamics,” Amazon’s Jeff Bezos tweeted.
Ouch. Inflation is far too important a problem for the White House to keep making statements like this. It’s either straight ahead misdirection or a deep misunderstanding of basic market dynamics. https://t.co/XgKfEICZpk
— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) July 3, 2022
Other notable responses included:
- Dade Phelan, Speaker of the Texas House: “The @potus is doubling down on his request for ‘gas stations’ to ‘take one for the team’. A complete lack of understanding of how this industry (or any) operates. Margins are pennies per gallon. A 40+ year inflation crisis and this is his solution? Looking forward to November!”
- Jon Gabriel, EIC Ricochet: “I’m starting to think this guy has no idea what he’s doing.”
- John Durant, author: “Textbook gaslighting. Dems are doing everything in their power to raise the price of fossil fuels — a manufactured crisis — then blaming high prices on local gas stations.”
- Mike Cernovich, political commentator: “lol there’s no margin in gasoline. They make their money on the sodas and junk food. This is Franchise 101 level knowledge, which the leader of the free world is lacking.”
- Helaine Olen, The Washington Post: “I’m sorry, but this is just sad.”