West News Wire: President Joe Biden received harsh criticism online for claiming that the price of gas in California had “always” been $7 per gallon. The remark was made as the government works to address the rising cost of living and record rate of inflation as the November midterm elections get near.
On Thursday, while the president was exiting a taco eatery in Los Angeles, he was questioned about the rising costs.
Have you checked the local gas costs in LA? It’s practically $7 per gallon,” an irate individual remarked.
Biden responded after pausing, “Well, that’s always been the case here.” No, it’s not,” he added before halting once more.
He then added: “Nationwide, [gas prices] came down about $1.35, and they’re still down over a dollar. But we’re going to work on housing. It is the most important thing we have to do.”
Many online were baffled by the president’s response, considering that the average gas price in California hit $4.74 per gallon in late February, according to the Los Angeles Times. Last month, the average cost at the pump in the Los Angeles area rose to $5.84, ABC7 reported.
US Senate candidate Mark Meuser tweeted: “I’m sorry Mr. President but California does not usually have $7 gas. In fact, prior to you becoming president, $5 gas in California was considered extremely high.” He added that Biden is out of touch with his own policies that are “destroying this nation.”
“Bidenism at its finest in LA today. High gas prices is a housing problem?” James Gallagher, the Republican Party leader in the California State Assembly, tweeted.
The false claim that 41 US states had an average gas price of less than $2.99 per gallon caused Biden to draw some criticism last month. In truth, not a single state could make that claim. The president’s error was later recognized by the White House.
Biden has on occasion referred to inflation as “Putin’s tax” and blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the growing cost of petrol. In reaction to Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine, which began in February, the US and several other Western nations have been attempting to limit Russia’s oil and gas exports.
Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act in August, which was created to help Americans cope with growing living expenses.
