A CNN guest said Monday that struggling Americans feel a “disconnection” with President Joe Biden over high inflation and the current economic climate.
Tia Mitchell, Washington correspondent for the Atlantic Journal-Constitution, said distressed Americans didn’t resonate with the White House’s message that the administration had eased inflation.
“I’m thinking about what the Biden administration is challenging in addition to what Phil is doing. [Mattingly] What’s just explained is that we understand that what people are feeling at home is different from the message they’re portraying, and there’s a conflict there,” Mitchell said. “They certainly have records, they have achievements, but I also know that people in the country still think petrol is too expensive. Same goes for grocery stores, prices go up, goods go up, rent goes up.”
“People say all these things because they think their economy is not doing so well, so they want the president to say, ‘Hey, you guys are doing better, look at what I’ve done.’ It’s hard to receive,” she continued. “But I think there is a disconnect there, and frankly there is no easy answer to how the White House will deal with that disconnect, because they really have a way to fix it. because there isn’t.”
Gasoline prices and inflation skyrocketed under the Biden administration, and the president has turned to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to cushion the spike in 2022. Prices have fallen from the previous year, but still average $3.57. according to to AAA. (Related: ‘You can’t get past this number’: CNN host shocked by poll showing Biden cratering in key demographics)
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, oil prices topped $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014. The Biden administration has continued to label the rise in gasoline prices as “Putin’s price hikes,” drawing criticism from Republican lawmakers who point to the rising gasoline prices. It had already increased even before the Russian invasion.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has repeatedly argued that Mr. Biden has successfully dealt with inflation and kept prices down. He accused Republicans of trying to exacerbate inflation by repealing the Control Inflation Act and the CHIPS Act.
Polls averaged 54% of the president’s disapproval and 41% approval as of Saturday. obtained By FiveThirtyEight.
