With gas prices soaring above $4 a gallon, if not higher, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki faulted Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a “dependence on fossil fuels,” and was grilled by Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy over that assertion.
“It sounds like you guys are blaming Putin for the increase in gas prices recently, but weren’t gas prices going up anyway because of post-pandemic supply chain issues?” Doocy asked.
Citing “outside analysts” to support her claim, Psaki let it be known that prices will likely continue to go up as she reiterated that “the increase, and the anticipated continued increase… that is a direct result of the invasion of Ukraine.”
“So you say that you’re going to do everything that you can to reduce the impact that high gas prices have on Americans. We’re asking other countries to think about maybe pumping more oil. Why not just do it here?” Doocy then asked.
“Well, to be very clear, federal policies are not limiting the supplies of oil and gas,” Psaki replied.
The Fox News reporter tried to interject that President Biden signed an executive order halting any new oil and gas leases, but a smarmy Psaki pressed on, saying: “Let me finish!”
“Let me give you the facts here — and I know that can be inconvenient, but I think they’re important in this moment: To the contrary, we have been clear that in the short term, supply must keep up with the demand, here and around the world, while we make the shift to secure a clear — clean energy future.,” she said. “We are one of the largest producers with a strong domestic oil and gas industry. We have actually produced more oil; it is at record numbers. And we will continue to produce more oil. There are 9,000 approved drilling permits that are not being used.”
“So the suggestion that we are not let allowing companies to drill is inaccurate. The suggestion that that is what is hindering or preventing gas prices to come down is inaccurate,” she added.
Looking to get around the careful play on words, Doocy asked, “Would President Biden rescind his executive order that halts new oil and natural gas leases on public lands?”
Psaki not only dodged that question, she also dodged a follow up from Doocy on whether Biden would “undo his executive order that stopped the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.”
“So, gas prices are approaching an all-time high per gallon. How high would they have to get before President Biden would say ‘I’m going to set aside my ambitious climate goals and just increase domestic oil production, get the producers to drill more here, and we can address the fossil fuel future later?'” Doocy also asked.
In another careful play on words, Psaki replied, “The U.S. produced more oil this past year than in President Trump’s first year.”
In a classic example of never letting a crisis go to waste, Psaki concluded the solution to skyrocketing gas prices is move away from fossil fuels.
“What we can do to prevent this from being a challenge in future crises, the best thing we can do is reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil,” she said.
Doocy followed up to ask if the administration thinks that by asking Saudi Arabia or Venezuela or Iran for more oil “is reducing our dependence on foreign oil?”
In responding, Biden’s spokesperson suggested that Trump wants Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, which flies in the face of the hard line stance the former president took against the Persian Gulf country.
“That’s actually — I just outlined each of those specific scenarios and the range of discussions that we’re having with each of those countries,” Psaki said. “I don’t think anybody is advocating for Iran to continue acquiring a nuclear weapon, perhaps except for the former president who pulled us out of the deal.”
As might be expected, the nonsensical assertion did not go over well onlinel:
.@PressSec just accused Trump of wanting Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. The administration refuses to admit the original Iran deal allowed the regime to become a nuclear power over time, and that it never gave up that ambition. A new deal will only strengthen it. Incompetence.
— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) March 7, 2022
Projecting much?
— Me Chomper (@chmpr) March 7, 2022
There’s your proof. No longer press secretary. Conspiracy secretary.
— Dayne (@Thunder_28606) March 7, 2022
It must be a fulfilling job to be able to stand at a podium and say whatever you want, claim it’s the truth, ignore reality and then do it all over again the next day.
— Mitchell Wexler (@MitchWex) March 7, 2022
Why do these people always talk about Trump, Biden has been in charge of this disaster for over a year now.
— Steve Houser (@Stephen_Houser) March 7, 2022
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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