A lot has changed in the political landscape over the past two decades, but one major evaluation of a U.S. President's performance is the price of a tank of gas, however ill-advised that measure may be.
Though retail gas prices vary across regions, the U.S. has seen a steady increase in gas prices since 2021 due to a number of factors. With Americans across the country no longer in quarantine in this latest stage of the pandemic, demand for retail gasoline skyrocketed last year, while U.S. gasoline production failed to meet that threshold, according to research from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
But most recently, tensions between Russia and Ukraine have had a significant effect on oil prices. After Russian President Putin declared two pro-Russia separatist regions in Ukraine as sovereign and began sending troops there, speculation that Russia would embark on a full-scale invasion seem all the more vindicated.
Russia is one of the largest oil and natural gas producers in the world, and a large amount of these oil exports travel through Ukraine to get to their destinations in Europe. These dynamics fueled a recent stratospheric rise in oil and natural gas prices.
But for many Republican politicians, these nuances don't seem to matter if their supporters believe Biden somehow singularly controls the prices they pay at the pump.
Such was the case with far-right Congressman Greg Steube of Florida, who tweeted a picture of the $167.21 cost to fill up his truck, sarcastically thanking Biden.
$167 to fill up my truck today in Arcadia. Thanks Joe Biden! pic.twitter.com/oQlOXvaXW0
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) February 22, 2022
But it didn't take clairvoyance for Twitter users to see that his truck requires more than 43 gallons to reach a full tank. For reference, the average smaller car typically holds 12 gallons and the average truck around 25 gallons, according to RocketHQ. As of 2017, the most popular full-size pickup trucks peaked at 38 gallons, Cars.com reports.
Twitter users said Steube should blame himself for choosing to buy such gas-guzzling vehicle, rather than blaming Biden.
Area attorney/congressman upset that the vehicle he purchased to compensate for his insecurity costs too much to gas up. https://t.co/NGUdJByT4Q
— Pé (@4everNeverTrump) February 22, 2022
So what exactly do you do in Florida that requires a truck like this? You added thousands of extra pounds of weight to an already bloated vehicle & you have the gall to complain about the cost of gas when you spend almost $100,000 on accessories you don't have a clue how it works https://t.co/d3XikepH5V pic.twitter.com/6eDZT7iqVe
— Russell Foster A New Texas (@RussellFosterTX) February 23, 2022
WhY dOeS iT cOsT sO MuCh To PuT gAs In My BiG sTuPiD tRuCk ThAnKs JoE bIdEn https://t.co/yK6JYYuIF0 pic.twitter.com/kve84sDETf
— ⛑️Car Helmets⛑️ (@CarHelmets) February 22, 2022
And whose fault is it that your clown car takes 43 gallons to fill???? 🤡🤡🤡 https://t.co/a5AZZLSNqs
— King Triton's Cummy Sea CuCUMber Fleshlight (@KharloKong) February 23, 2022
Why is it members of The Party of Personal Responsibility all seem to drive vehicles with 40 gallon tanks that get 15 mpg? https://t.co/4ioz7WXXPI
— constans (@constans) February 22, 2022
You bought a truck that needs 43 gallons of gas and you still found a way to blame someone else 😂 https://t.co/sX25o62kTi
— “⭐️” (@BIGSLEEMO) February 23, 2022
Some of the responses were merciless.
$167 to fill up my truck today in Arcadia. Thanks Joe Biden! pic.twitter.com/jW9hY4DtcQ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 23, 2022
Greg: Just got back from the grocery store and the milk was $1,200
Me: You bought 400 gallons of milk
— Dad Jokes Panda (@TrashPandaFTW) February 22, 2022
Biden didn’t make you buy a gas guzzler. Are you going to blame that shitty blazer on him too?
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) February 23, 2022
Ouch.
