On Tuesday, former President Donald J. Trump remarked that Biden is “at the mercy of OPEC,” as evidenced by the federal government’s raid of strategic oil reserves in order to reduce prices for various American consumers.
Per data from the AAA, the national gas price average is $3.403 as of Tuesday, with gas prices more than tripling since 2020.
“I understand that [Biden] will be announcing an ‘attack’ on the newly brimming Strategic Oil Reserves,” Trump commented in a statement, noting that Biden was doing so in a desperate bid to lower gasoline prices.
“Those reserves are meant to be used for serious emergencies, like war, and nothing else,” Trump noted in disbelief.
One of the signature achievements of the Trump administration included its focus on energy independence, and he shredded Biden for his apparent preference for OPEC rather than American energy producers.
“We were energy independent one year ago,” Trump continued, “[and] now we are at the mercy of OPEC.”
Trump also observed that gasoline is selling for over $7 per gallon in selected areas of California, though gas prices are increasingly generally nationwide. In addition, the Biden administration now intends to acquire oil from the Strategic Reserves, designated for emergencies only.
“Is this any way to run a Country?” Trump exclaimed.
Helping working class Americans battle the Biden gas price crisis–what a refreshing approach to serving the people. https://t.co/s5mQIEk6lu
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) November 23, 2021
Trump continued onward to detail his time in office, notably when consumer gas prices were lower and the nation’s depleted oil reserves were filled.
“I filled them up three years ago, right to the top, when oil prices were very low,” Trump indicated.
Moreover, as the pandemic swept through the nation, Trump also stabilized the cost of oil in order for American producers to remain solvent.
In April 2020, Trump indicated to producers that “once [the pandemic] straightens out, and once you get some demand,” which is when the American companies could subsequently reduce supply and equalize the prices.
“We want to remain independent,” Trump declared at the time.
As the pandemic begins to wane, oil markets have recovered after weakening significantly.
However, as Biden has assumed control of the nation, American energy independence has declined. One of Biden’s first actions in office included killing the Keystone XL Pipeline, and he is currently deliberating on whether or not to terminate an additional pipeline in Michigan.
Furthermore, Biden has also continued to dodge accountability for enormous energy prices. Instead, he has directed the Federal Trade Commission to begin investigating various oil producers for alleged “anti-competitive behavior.”
“I therefore ask that the Commission further examine what is happening with oil and gas markets,” Biden brayed, requesting for the Commission to bring “all of [its] tools to bear” if “any wrong doing” is uncovered.