White House Conveys to Americans That Gas Prices Are ‘Global Challenge,’ Higher in Other Countries

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during a daily press briefing at the White House in Washington on June 6, 2022. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

The White House on Monday said that it is “really important” that Americans understand that sky-rocketing gas prices are a “global challenge” while reminding them that the cost of fuel is even higher in countries like Canada and Germany.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre made the remarks during a press briefing when asked if President Joe Biden’s administration is working on any new initiatives or policies that might be put in place if prices continue to surge across the nation.

During the briefing, the press secretary pointed to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine which has further exacerbated the price of gas following the economic rebound in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Look, you know, if you look at what happened when Putin started amassing troops on the border with Russia, the price of gas has increased by $1.51,” Jean-Pierre said.

“And I also want to add—because this is really important so that people understand and flag that similar issues are happening around the world—in the EU, gas is $8.15 per gallon. It has increased by $1.74. In Germany, gas is $8.88 per gallon. It has increased $2.16. In Canada, gas is $6.23 per gallon. It has increased $1.93. And all of this has happened since December of 2021. This is a global challenge.”

Gas prices over $7.00 a gallon displayed at a Chevron gas station in Menlo Park, Calif., on May 25, 2022. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Jean-Pierre added that soaring prices at the pump are “something that everyone is feeling across the globe” while acknowledging that “these gas prices, including food prices in particular” are impacting families, “especially as they sit around their kitchen table.”

The Biden administration is “fighting inflation in every way that we can” she further stated.

Her comments come after data released over the weekend showed that the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in the United States has more than doubled during Biden’s presidency.

When Biden took office on Jan. 20, 2021, the average price for a gallon of regular-grade gasoline stood at $2.39, according to AAA. But as of June 7, Americans are paying $4.865 per gallon.

U.S. President Joe Biden at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington on June 1, 2022. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Biden told reporters at the White House on June 1 that it was unlikely his administration would be able to bring down the cost of inflation, including gas and food prices, in the near future.

However, the president said bringing down other cost burdens facing American families, such as drug prices or child care, could help compensate for soaring expenditure on gas and food prices.

Biden also called for higher tax rates on corporations that are paying no taxes at all.

Jean-Pierre said Monday that she did not have any information on actions the president would take to help lower gas prices but touted Biden’s American Rescue Plan for putting the country in a stronger position to handle inflation.

“The president met that moment … really putting us in the place where we look at today in a much stronger economic situation where we can actually deal with inflation head-on,” she said. “We have a lot of work to do, and we understand what the American people is feeling, but we are in a stronger place to take that on.”