Biden threatens to use 'Federal Government tools and emergency authorities' to force oil companies to lower gas prices



President Joe Biden sent a letter to oil companies on Wednesday threatening to use the tools and "emergency authorities" of the federal government to make them increase oil output and lower gas prices.

“At a time of war – historically high refinery profit margins being passed directly onto American families are not acceptable,” wrote Biden in the letter.

″[C]ompanies must take immediate actions to increase the supply of gasoline, diesel, and other refined product,” he added.

The letter was sent to oil companies including Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, and Chevron.

Biden added that the administration was ready to use “all reasonable and appropriate Federal Government tools and emergency authorities to increase refinery capacity and output in the near term.”

He went on to point out an "unprecedented disconnect" between the price of gas and the price of oil.

“Since the beginning of the year, refiners’ margins for refining gasoline and diesel have tripled, and are currently at their highest levels ever recorded,” he wrote in the letter.

Biden's approval rating continues to plummet as Americans blame his green energy policies for exacerbating the oil crisis. His unpopularity is a further problem for Democrats who face devastating losses in the upcoming midterm elections.

“The crunch that families are facing deserves immediate action. Your companies need to work with my Administration to bring forward concrete, near-term solutions that address the crisis,” Biden claimed.

The administration has attempted to blame Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin for gas prices, but that has fallen on the deaf ears of Americans suffering from high inflation.

Many critics of the Biden administration have noted that he has previously threatened to end the oil industry entirely before being forced to ask for its help after gas prices skyrocketed.

Here's more about Biden's threats to the oil companies:

Biden demands oil companies explain lack of gaswww.youtube.com

Biden offers his solution to high gas prices, and the online backlash is fierce



President Joe Biden faced online ridicule and mockery after he offered one solution for high gas prices that the average American would likely find completely unfeasible.

Biden made the comments in a speech Thursday from the White House where he touted his plan to tackle the problem of high gas prices.

The president blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and the coronavirus pandemic for the rising of gas prices.

"Putin's war is imposing the costs on Americans and our allies, and on Democracies around the world," said Biden in his speech.

He called the increase in gas prices "Putin's price hike" and said that his plan would lead to American energy independence.

"Under my plan, which is before Congress now, we can take advantage of the next generation of electric vehicles, that a typical driver will save about $80 a month from not having to pay gas at the pump," Biden explained.

Gas prices have skyrocketed in past months due to inflation from government overspending, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and the Democratic efforts to phase out fossil fuels.

'Way out of touch'

Many critics of the Biden administration took to Twitter to respond to the unfeasible solution.

"Just drop $60,000 on a new car and you could save $80/mo it's not that hard," replied Abigail Marone.

"A 'typical driver' with an average credit score financing a bare bones Nissan Leaf will have a car payment of around $560 a month. So a net 'savings' of -$480 per month," tweeted writer Jim Jamitis.

"The old man and his whole staff is way out of touch," read another very popular response.

"These people live in a totally different world than the average citizen. They just don’t get it or else they do get it and keep pushing it hoping it comes true," replied one critic.

"These people are just mocking the poor and working class people," said another detractor.

Biden's two-prong plan to reduce gas prices included releasing millions more barrels from the strategic petroleum reserve and punishing oil companies who don't follow his command to increase oil production.

A recent poll found that far more people blamed Biden and his energy policies for high gas prices than those that blamed Putin, the pandemic, or greedy corporations.

Here's the video of Biden's comments:

Joe Biden responds to rising gas prices with energy plan | USA TODAYwww.youtube.com