White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki shut down Fox News reporter Peter Doocy after he suggested that the federal government bears responsibility for rising gas prices.
Psaki's clash with Doocy comes amid concerns about the United States' involvement with the Russian energy sector in the days since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces to invade Ukraine, creating the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe in decades and upsetting markets around the world.
You can watch the exchange in the video below.
"Let me give you the facts here. And I know that can be inconvenient, but I think they're important in this moment" -- Jen Psaki to Peter Doocypic.twitter.com/9sXR0gSSB5— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1646683382
It all began when Doocy suggested that President Joe Biden and his administration are skirting their responsibilities and seeking to blame Putin for rising gas prices:
"It sounds like you guys are blaming Putin for the increase in gas prices. But weren't gas prices going up anyway because of post-pandemic supply-chain issues?"
But he did not accept Psaki's response that energy price spikes are "a direct result of the invasion of Ukraine," asking:
"So, you say you're going to do everything you can to reduce the impact that high gas prices has on Americans. We're asking other countries to think about pumping more oil. Why not just do it here?"
Doocy went on to insist that an executive order President Biden signed in his first week that "halted new oil and gas leases on public land" is responsible for increasing gas prices even as Psaki pointed out that federal policies have not limited supplies of oil and gas.
When he complained that "there are 9,000 permits that are not being used," Psaki shut him down with a blunt response:
"So the suggestion that we're not allowing companies to drill is inaccurate. The suggestion that that is what is hindering or preventing gas prices from coming down is inaccurate."
And when Doocy asked if the Biden administration thinks "asking Saudi Arabia or Venezuela or Iran is reducing our dependence on foreign oil," Psaki was even firmer:
"I don't think anyone is advocating for Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, perhaps, except for the former president, who pulled us out of the [nuclear] deal."
Many have praised Psaki for her response and criticized Doocy's line of questioning.
This is what happens when a reporter is so consumed by using Republican talking points that they\u2019ve forgotten all logic and reason.\n(No, opening the Keystone Pipeline will not put an end to high gas prices)https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1500925007194640391\u00a0\u2026— Just Dice \ud83c\udfb2 \ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Just Dice \ud83c\udfb2 \ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1646734027
Another day, another press briefing, at which @PDoocy feels it necessary to highlight his ignorance and illiteracy. He claims to be a journalist yet is completely in over his head on the topic of oil production https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1500925007194640391\u00a0\u2026— Kate #BuildBackBetter w/PresidentBiden & VPHarris (@Kate #BuildBackBetter w/PresidentBiden & VPHarris) 1646725078
I continue to wonder... Is Peter Doocy really that ignorant? Or does he just pretend to be, to keep Fox viewers ignorant and fired up?\n\nAnd I continue to believe... Jen Psaki, OUR @PressSec, is a national treasure.https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1500925007194640391\u00a0\u2026— Daphne ***WHY?!*** Shepherd \ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\u262e\ufe0f (@Daphne ***WHY?!*** Shepherd \ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\u262e\ufe0f) 1646742276
Bless his stupid little brain. He keeps trying.https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1500925007194640391\u00a0\u2026— James Hayes (@James Hayes) 1646711648
#PsakiBomb on #Doocy never ever gets old. He is a Special kind of Stupid and so loves getting dunked on. There is no other explanation.https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1500925007194640391\u00a0\u2026— Mike C#TheResistance (@Mike C#TheResistance) 1646714834
You are my hero @PressSec such finesse handling faux news disinformation \n\n#PsakiBomb \n#ONEV1 #wtpBLUE #DemCasthttps://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1500925007194640391\u00a0\u2026— NicoleBlu \ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@NicoleBlu \ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1646715474
So @pdoocy makes his bones being a constant disingenuous jerk. @jrpsaki Why? \n\nCan we have solid journalism? Not questions drawn up specifically to benefit oil lobbyists!!! Somebody follow the breadcrumbs with Doocy.https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1500925007194640391\u00a0\u2026— FreeSpeechApparel (@FreeSpeechApparel) 1646712271
I know you probably didn't learn how to take notes in school since you dropped out so early, but if you noted this response by Jen maybe the next time you tweeted about the Keystone XL pipeline you wouldn't sound so damn stupid!\n@laurenboeberthttps://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1500925007194640391\u00a0\u2026— Dan Linderer (@Dan Linderer) 1646703946
Maybe fossil fuel companies holding unused leases should forfeit their sweet sweet subsidies for failing to step up and serve the American people when their patriotism was needed most. If companies want to be people, they need to be good American people.https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1500925007194640391\u00a0\u2026— Molly Rogers (@Molly Rogers) 1646705744
Psaki's exchange with Doocy is the second time over the last few days that she has had to respond to similar talking points from a Fox News reporter.
Last week, Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich asked why the White House isn't increasing domestic energy production, a question that received criticism because the White House does not have control over it.
When Psaki reminded Heinrich that "there are 9000 approved oil leases that the oil companies are not tapping into currently" and urged her to direct her question to oil companies themselves, Heinrich asked her to explain "if there is anything the administration can do to get those providers back to pre-pandemic levels."
Psaki stressed that Heinrich's question would be better suited for the oil companies though that did not stop Heinrich from suggesting that "energy friendly policies," such as the decision to abandon the politically contentious Keystone XL pipeline have contributed to the problem.
Heinrich's question prompted Psaki to point out that the pipeline "has never been operational," noting that it is "a proposed solution that has no relationship or would have no impact on what the problem is."