Fox News Anchor Challenges Economic Adviser on Gas Price Blame
Fox News' Bill Hemmer interrupts National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett during a discussion on rising gas prices, steering the conversation back to current market realities.
During a segment on Fox News' "America's Newsroom" on Friday, host Bill Hemmer discussed the recent surge in gas prices, noting that the national average had climbed to $4.09 per gallon, up nearly a dollar from the previous week. He inquired about the potential trajectory of fuel costs.
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett characterized the price increase as a "temporary thing" and detailed the administration's efforts to mitigate inflation, including a significant release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. However, when Hassett began attributing the current gas prices to former President Joe Biden's previous actions, Hemmer interjected, stating, "OK, but that was then, and this is now."
Hemmer highlighted that West Texas crude oil prices had risen from $67 a barrel on February 27 to $111, pressing Hassett on the economy's capacity to withstand such increases. Hassett responded by emphasizing the economy's current momentum and expressed confidence that the elevated prices would be short-lived.
The exchange underscored the complexities of attributing current economic challenges to past policies and highlighted the immediate concerns over rising fuel costs amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
