As part of a Tuesday press conference, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre found herself the target of intense questioning concerning the gas prices that are once again beginning to surge all over the United States.
Peter Doocy, a correspondent with Fox News, brought the topic of the currently surging gas prices an issue of contention as part of the press briefing, and repeatedly called out Jean-Pierre on the issue for an answer.
“You’ve said the president was responsible for gas prices coming down,” stated Doocy. “Is the president responsible for gas prices going up?”
“So, it’s a lot more nuanced than that,” expressed Jean-Pierre. “You know this. There have been global challenges that we have all have dealt with. When I say ‘all,’ meaning other countries as well have dealt with since the pandemic. There’s been pandemic and there’s been Putin’s war.”
“And what the president was able to do — he took some historic steps, when you think about the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and making sure that he — we were able to do everything that we can to bring that cost down for American families, give them a little bit more of a breathing room,” explained Jean-Pierre concerning the actions from Biden in the run-up to the midterm elections. “And so that is what the president is going to continue to stay focused on — are American consumers; how do we continue to keep — to keep prices down.”
DOOCY TIME: "You've said the President was responsible for gas prices coming down. Is [he] responsible for gas prices going up?"
KJP: "So, it's a lot more nuanced than that…You know this. There have been global challenges…There's been pandemic and…Putin's war." pic.twitter.com/QrbOKJzay5
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 4, 2022
Doocy then took time to point out the fact that gas prices in California were well over $6 per gallon and Nevada and Oregon both sported gas prices spiking up to over $5 per gallon.
“Who can afford that?” Doocy posited.
“And we understand that,” stated Jean-Pierre. “That’s why the president worked so hard the past several months to make sure that he did everything we can to bring gas prices down. We have seen fastest — I know you’re pulling out a couple of areas across the country, and I get that. And we understand that there’s more work to do. We have never said we were done here. We have always been very clear that there is more work to do.”
Doocy: "[T]here are consumers…in California paying $6.41 a gallon…Nevada, $5.51. Oregon, $5.46. Who can afford that?"
KJP: "We understand…That's why [Biden] worked…hard the past several months…to bring gas prices down…[Y]ou're pulling out…areas across the country" pic.twitter.com/H5sYDjGZiP
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 4, 2022
Doocy finished up his comments towards Jean-Pierre on the subject by highlighting Biden’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia and questioning what happened during the trip considering that the kingdom did not commit to raising its total oil output.
“So let’s — I want to be very clear. And we have said that, you know, his trip to — his trip to the Middle East was not about oil,” she stated. “It was about America’s position in the Middle East and consultation with 12 leaders from across the region on a range of issues, similar to his summits in Asia or the Americas and later this year with African leaders.”
Doocy: "When [Biden] went to Saudi Arabia, he said, 'I'm doing all I can to increase the supply for the United States of America, which I expect to happen.' What happened?"
KJP: "So…his trip to the Middle East was not about oil. It was about America's position" over there pic.twitter.com/MnMVJHTla6
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 4, 2022
