During a press briefing on Monday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre appeared to accidentally link the nation’s worsening gas price and inflation crisis to the signing of Joe Biden’s “American Rescue Plan” in April 2021 after being asked about it by a reporter.
“18 months ago when the president took office, inflation and gas prices starting rising…” a reporter began to ask the Press Secretary.
“Well, 18 months ago, uh, the president signed the American Rescue, Rescue Plan,” Jean-Pierre stuttered, “more than, about, back in April of 2021.”
REPORTER: "18 months ago when the president took office, inflation and gas prices starting rising."
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: "18 months ago the president signed the American Rescue Plan" pic.twitter.com/fGi2Zzm2j5
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 17, 2022
Biden’s American Rescue Plan, a massive $1.9 trillion stimulus bill passed by Democrats in spring of 2021, provided Americans with $1,400 checks, expansions for unemployment insurance, child tax credit benefits, and hundreds of billions of dollars in aid to state and local governments.
The controversial spending bill, hailed by the White House as one of Biden’s greatest achievements, has been linked to inflation by several economic experts who say that the trillion dollar size of the legislation was too much money.
Former Obama economist Steve Rattner called Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus the “original sin” of inflation pic.twitter.com/p7aubDve1A
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 17, 2022
“The original sin was the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, passed in March,” wrote Former Obama economist Steve Ratter in November 2021.
“The bill – almost completely unfunded – sought to counter the effects of the Covid pandemic by focusing on the demand-side stimulus rather than on investment. That has contributed materially to today’s inflation levels,” Ratter said.
Jean-Pierre also used her time at the podium to accuse 45th President Donald Trump of harboring anti-Semitic views after remarks he made about his pro-Israel policies.
NOW – White House: "Donald Trump's comments were anti-Semitic… We need to root out antisemitism everywhere it rears its ugly head." pic.twitter.com/fHPHofCdLz
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) October 17, 2022
“Donald Trump’s comments were anti-Semitic, as you all know, and insulting, both to Jews and our Israeli allies,” she declared of Trump’s remarks.
“For years now, Donald Trump has aligned with extremists and anti-Semitic figures,” Jean-Pierre continued, without evidence. “It should be called out, to your point Darlene, just like we called out our Democratic friends and colleagues last week, and we will condemn and call this out as well.”
