OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
President Joe Biden’s words have come back to haunt him again.
On Wednesday he sent a tweet in which he blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin and COVID for the rise in gas prices and inflation.
“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,” he said.
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.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 20, 2022
But some Twitter users juxtaposed that tweet with one that he made two years to the day earlier when he was campaigning against the man who was in the White House, former President Donald Trump.
“The President needs to stop blaming others and do his job,” he said on April 20,2020.
The President needs to stop blaming others and do his job.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 21, 2020
In his tweet thread on Wednesday, he continued to make his case.
“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,” the president said, beating the “Putin’s price hike” drum that The White House has adopted.
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.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 20, 2022
“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 said, using the phrase again.
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.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 20, 2022
“Beyond gas prices, I’ve called on Congress to move immediately to lower the cost of families’ utility bills, prescription drugs, and more — while lowering the deficit to reduce inflationary pressure. That would make a big difference for families,” he said.
Beyond gas prices, I’ve called on Congress to move immediately to lower the cost of families’ utility bills, prescription drugs, and more — while lowering the deficit to reduce inflationary pressure.
That would make a big difference for families.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 20, 2022
“Our recovery has now created 7.9 million jobs — more jobs created over the first 14 months of any presidency ever. Unemployment is at 3.6% — down from 6.4% when I took office. That’s the fastest decline in unemployment to start a President’s term ever recorded,” he said in another tweet.
Our recovery has now created 7.9 million jobs — more jobs created over the first 14 months of any presidency ever.
Unemployment is at 3.6% — down from 6.4% when I took office. That’s the fastest decline in unemployment to start a President’s term ever recorded.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 20, 2022
The president failed to mention that his job “creation” included people going back to work after being forced to stay home during the pandemic, which also lowered the unemployment as people returned to work.
Not everyone was buying his rhetoric, with some comparing his two tweets two years apart.
— Clown World Today 🤡🌎 (@cwt_news) April 20, 2022
— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) April 20, 2022
Others simply took umbrage at him deflecting blame from himself.
“Biden claims prices are higher now because of “COVID” and “Vladimir Putin.” Give me a break. He needs to look at his own policies!” Republican Arizone Rep. Andy Biggs said.
Biden claims prices are higher now because of "COVID" and "Vladimir Putin."
Give me a break. He needs to look at his own policies!
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) April 20, 2022
“How dumb does Joe Biden think we are to continually blame high gas prices on COVID and Putin? Level with us like we are intelligent people for once, Joe. Enough lies,” one twitter user said.
How dumb does Joe Biden think we are to continually blame high gas prices on COVID and Putin?
Level with us like we are intelligent people for once, Joe.
Enough lies.
— Angie Wong (@angiewong) April 20, 2022
“If I fail to meet my next project deadline at work, I’m going to blame it on Putin and Covid and see how it goes,” another said.
If I fail to meet my next project deadline at work, I'm going to blame it on Putin and Covid and see how it goes.
— 🇺🇸 Lowkey Rey 2.0 🇺🇸 (@AtlRey) April 20, 2022
“Joe Biden deserves the blame for inflation and gas prices. He needs to stop blaming “Putin and Covid” and take responsibility for his failures,” another Twitter user argued.
Joe Biden deserves the blame for inflation and gas prices.
He needs to stop blaming "Putin and Covid" and take responsibility for his failures.
— Real Defender🇺🇸 (@real_defender) April 20, 2022
“It’s a slap in the face to the American public when the President does not take ANY accountability for the policy changes his administration has enacted which has led to the present conditions the people of the nation are experiencing,” Barrington Martin II said.
It’s a slap in the face to the American public when the President does not take ANY accountability for the policy changes his administration has enacted which has led to the present conditions the people of the nation are experiencing.
— Barrington Martin II (@_BarringtonII) April 20, 2022
Many families are struggling because you fired police officers, nurses, & pilots
w/ your illegal, unconstitutional mandate.
You turned your back on working class Americans the same way you left Americans behind in Afghanistan.
We will remember when we vote this November.
— #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) April 20, 2022
“Many families are struggling because you fired police officers, nurses, & pilots w/ your illegal, unconstitutional mandate. You turned your back on working class Americans the same way you left Americans behind in Afghanistan. We will remember when we vote this November,” Scott Presler said.
