Headline RoundupJuly 5th, 2022

Bezos, Biden Trade Barbs on High Gas Prices

Summary from the AllSides News Team

Two of America's most powerful people went back and forth about high gas prices over the Fourth of July weekend.

In a Saturday tweet, President Joe Biden told "companies running gas stations and setting prices" to "Bring down the price you are charging at the pump to reflect the cost you’re paying for the product. And do it now." Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the world's second-wealthiest man behind Elon Musk, responded, saying that "Inflation is far too important a problem for the White House to keep making statements like this" and accusing the Biden administration of "straight ahead misdirection or a deep misunderstanding of basic market dynamics."

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to Bezos, saying, "Oil prices have dropped by about $15 over the past month, but prices at the pump have barely come down. That’s not 'basic market dynamics.' It’s a market that is failing the American consumer." She then criticized Bezos directly, saying, "I guess it's not surprising that you think oil and gas companies using market power to reap record profits at the expense of the American people is the way our economy is supposed to work."

Many sources across the spectrum highlighted the remarks, focusing especially on Bezos's criticism of Biden. Truthout (Lean Left bias) was one of the few sources to instead focus on how some "progressives ripped billionaire Jeff Bezos for his latest defense of corporate profiteering." Some right-rated sources highlighted criticism of Biden's tweet from the oil industry.

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