A 2020 tweet from President Joe Biden telling his predecessor to “stop blaming others” is resurfacing as he is blaming COVID-19 and Russian President Vladimir Putin for higher prices.
On Wednesday, Biden tweeted, “I know that families are still struggling with higher prices. I grew up in a family where if the price of gas went up, we felt it. Let’s be absolutely clear about why prices are high right now: COVID and Vladimir Putin.”
I know that families are still struggling with higher prices. I grew up in a family where if the price of gas went up, we felt it.
— President Biden Archived (@POTUS46Archive) April 20, 2022
Let’s be absolutely clear about why prices are high right now: COVID and Vladimir Putin.
He continued, “Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has driven up gas prices and food prices all over the world. We saw that in the most recent inflation data. Last month, about 70% of the increase in inflation was a consequence of Putin’s price hike because of the impact on gas and other energy prices.”
“I’m doing everything I can to bring down prices and address the Putin Price Hike. That’s why I authorized the release of one million barrels a day as we work with U.S. oil producers to ramp up production — and coordinated this release with partners and allies around the world,” he added.
I’m doing everything I can to bring down prices and address the Putin Price Hike.
— President Biden Archived (@POTUS46Archive) April 20, 2022
That’s why I authorized the release of one million barrels a day as we work with U.S. oil producers to ramp up production — and coordinated this release with partners and allies around the world.
The RNC Research account shared a tweet Biden sent on April 20, 2020 — two years ago to date — that read, “The President needs to stop blaming others and do his job.”
TWO YEARS AGO TODAY: Do you remember this, @JoeBiden? pic.twitter.com/t4rNtSqeZv
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) April 20, 2022
Biden’s tweet comes as the national average price for a gallon of gas sits at $4.11 a gallon, up from $2.87 a year ago.
Additionally, inflation hit 8.5% in March, the highest rate since Dec. 1981.
Biden and members of his administration have blamed inflation and higher gas price on the “Putin price hike” following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
However, gas prices reached seven-year highs months before Russia launched its invasion, and inflation was already elevated as well.
Republicans claim that Biden’s energy policies and COVID-19 spending package led to higher gas prices and poured rocket fuel on inflation.
However, there is little evidence so far that the president’s policies have constricted domestic oil production.
Additionally, the AFP notes, “The United States became a net exporter of oil and refined products in 2020 but still imports millions of barrels per day, and global market conditions will affect the country no matter how much crude it produces domestically.”
And Reuters points out, “The annual inflation rates for dozens and dozens of goods routinely purchased by American households – including food – were already at their highest levels in a decade before Biden entered the White House.”
“That’s in large part because of the COVID-19 relief spending enacted under Republican Donald Trump’s administration with overwhelming Republican support in the Senate,” it added.