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Psaki Gets Testy With Fox News’ Peter Doocy In Tense Back And Forth Over Spiking Gas Prices: ‘Let Me Finish’

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Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, had an argument with Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy Monday over the rising price of gas.

Doocy–Psaki exchanges are the main highlight of every daily media briefing. 

Last night’s fireworks were displayed yesterday afternoon.

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Psaki to Doocy: ‘Let me finish’

Doocy asked Psaki on the administration’s reaction to gas pricesGas prices have risen by more than $4 per gallon in the United States. The war in Ukraine has seen gas prices rise rapidly over the past year. This latest increase is due to the rapid growth of gasoline prices.

Doocy told the press secretary, “It sounds like you guys are blaming Putin for the increase in gas prices recently, but weren’t gas prices going up anyway because of post-pandemic supply chain issues?” 

Psaki responded, “Well, I think there’s no question that, as we have seen and outside analysts have conveyed this as well, the increase, and the anticipated continued increase — which is, I think, what some of your colleagues were asking about — that that is a direct result of the invasion of Ukraine.  And also, there was an anticipation of that that was — that was — it was factored in, as gas prices have gone up.”

Doocy wasn’t having it. He did the following:

“So you say that you’re going to do everything that you can to reduce the impact that high gas prices have on Americans.  We’re asking other countries to think about maybe pumping more oil.  Why not just do it here?”

“To be very clear, federal policies are not limiting the supplies of oil and gas to the continent—let me finish,” Psaki replied.

When Doocy interjected, Psaki shot back, “Let me finish.”

Psaki then get testy, stumbling through a reading of talking points in front of her: “Let me give you the facts here and I know that can be inconvenient but they’re important at this moment,” Psaki said. “To the contrary, we have been clear that in the short term supply we must keep up with the demand. We are adhering around the world that we make the shift to secure a clean energy future.”

Doocy asked then if Biden would cancel his executive order, which halted the new. Federal leasesOil and Gas Companies can drill.

Psaki replied, “Well, 90 percent of them happen on private lands, as I’m sure you know. And there are 9,000 unused, approved drilling permits.”

Representatives from the energy sector have disputed this claim.

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The exchange didn’t get any less heated when Doocy asked if Biden would reverse his decision on the Keystone Pipeline, which was expected to carry at least 800,000 barrels of oil per day.

“Are you suggesting that would solve the gas prices issue?” Psaki retorted.