The White House insists tackling inflation is a top priority for President Joe Biden, even amid persistent price increases.
During a press briefing on Monday, Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked, “If President Biden’s top domestic priority is inflation, why doesn’t he have more to show for it?”
“So, the president understands, and we’ve talked about this many times, that inflation is an issue… cost is an issue for the American people, and so he’s been very clear about making that his number one economic priority,” Jean-Pierre.
She went on to argue Biden has “done the work” as she pointed to a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs in Medicare in the Inflation Reduction Act.
Jean-Pierre claimed Republicans would “make things worse” while Democrats “want to do the opposite and make things a little easier.”
Watch the video below:
Doocy: "But who exactly thinks [Biden] is doing a good job on inflation? B/c…he receives his lowest job ratings on inflation. Net negative 38 points.
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 17, 2022
KJP: "We understand…challenges…are in front of us here in this country, that is why [he] has taken action to lower costs" pic.twitter.com/xB4aN6gljC
Doocy then asked, “Who exactly thinks the president is doing a good job on inflation? Because we’ve got a new poll that finds he receives his lowest job ratings on inflation. Net negative 38 points.”
“We understand that there are challenges that are in front of us here in this country. That is why the president has taken action to lower costs,” the press secretary responded.
She added, “Think about gas prices, you think about healthcare premiums, you think of Medicare again.”
Gas prices did decline for almost 100 days over the summer. However, they are starting to rise again.
And Congress did pass the Inflation Reduction Act, but so far, there has not been a noticeable decline in inflation.
After the July inflation report, there were some glimmers of hope that inflation had peaked. But August and September seem to show inflation could be here for a little while longer.
So while price increases are apparently a top priority for Biden, he has so far been unable to address them.
This is a problem for Biden. He has no good answers as to why his efforts have failed to yield fruit.
The president cannot talk himself out of inflation. He can promise the light at the end of the tunnel is just around the corner. He can even say the economy is “strong as hell.”
But with months of high prices and no evidence that relief is on the way, it is a hard sell for Americans who have been feeling the pinch of inflation for over a year.
