'If you don't like hot dogs you may not care': Jen Psaki's flippant answer when grilled on tone-deaf White House tweet about 16-cent saving on BBQs amid highest inflation for 13 years
White House press secretary Jen Psaki tried to defend a White House tweet on Friday that boasted how President Biden's economic policies would be saving Americans $0.16 cents on traditional items for a Fourth of July barbecue.
'Planning a cookout this year? Ketchup on the news,' the White House tweeted. 'According to the Farm Bureau, the cost of a 4th of July BBQ is down from last year. It's a fact you must-hear – Hot dog, the Biden economic plan is working. And that's something we can all relish.'
The tweet was accompanied by a GIF laying out the price change for select food items. The savings for the entire meal came to just 16 cents.
The White House came under fire on Friday over a tweet suggesting Americans would be 16 cents better off over the ingredients for a July 4th barbecue
The White House Press Secretary came under fire for her flippant answer to a question about rising inflation
The tweet was picked up by Fox News' senior White House correspondent, Peter Doocy who attempted to get a feel for the administration's thinking behind the touting of such a minuscule saving.
'The official White House account tweeted the cost of a 4th of July cookout is down 16 cents from last year, 16 cents!' Doocy began.
'Does the White House think that $0.16 off a barbecue has more of an impact on people's lives than gas being a dollar more than this time last ?' Doocy asked.
AAA reported that the national average price for a gallon of regular gas had risen to $3.12, the highest it’s been on Independence Day weekend since 2014.
But Psaki attempted to defend the tweet.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki was picked apart by Fox News' Peter Doocy
China is ramping up their threatening rhetoric, gas prices are through the roof, and Psaki is talking about hot dog prices.pic.twitter.com/uefzjvJbD9
— Suburban Black Man (@goodblackdude) July 2, 2021
China is ramping up their threatening rhetoric, gas prices are through the roof, and Psaki is talking about hot dog prices.pic.twitter.com/uefzjvJbD9
'There has been a reduction in some of the costs of key components of a Fourth of July barbecue, that was what the tweet was noting,' she began before spiraling into flippancy.
'I would say if you don't like hot dogs you may not care of the reduction of costs, you don't have to like hot dogs.'
Doocy quickly interrupted: 'You can't buy a hotdog for 16 cents, that's like a bite of a hot dog!'
Psaki attempted to move past the conversation attempting to stress that the administration's primary focus is 'to celebrate three million jobs created under President Joe Biden.'
'We're focused on and continuing to implement additional components of Biden's economic Build back Better agenda,' Psaki continued.
Doocy roundly mocked the administration for touting the tiny savings in a holiday tweet
The White House tweeted on Thursday Biden's economic policies saving Americans $0.16 was a sign that 'the Biden economic plan is working.'
But data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis last month showed food prices rising 0.4% since March - a full percentage increase from July 2020.
Beef has increased 3% since last Fourth of July, while pork is up 2.6% over the same period.
Last week, the USDA noted that the consumer price index for grocery store and supermarket food purchases was up 0.7 percent over May of last year.
The USDA also projected that grocery store and supermarket prices would increase between 2 and 3 percent this year.
In June, the Labor Department reported that its Consumer Price Index showed that inflation had gone up 5 percent since May 2020, the largest 12-month increase since a 5.4 percent bump for the period ending in August 2008.
On Friday, President Biden touted a new economic report showing the U.S. added 850,000 jobs in June – heralding the jobs gains and calling for 'critical' investments in infrastructure, only to swat down reporters who tried to ask him about his Afghanistan draw-down.
'More jobs, better wages. That’s a good combination,' Biden said.
He pointed to forecasts of rapid growth, and post-pandemic gains as markets hit record territory.
The US added 850,000 jobs in June but unemployment rose from 5.8 percent to 5.9 percent, the Labor Department revealed Friday. Joe and Jill Biden are pictured arriving at the White House after their trip to the collapsed Miami condo on Thursday
'Our economy is on the move, and we have COVID-19 on the run,' Biden said in remarks at the White House Friday, where his up-beat pronouncements soon led to tense exchanges with reports who asked him about the U.S. troop withdrawal and signs of instability in Kabul.
'We're on track and we're on the right track. Our plan is working, and we're not going to let up now,' said Biden, as he talked up job gains in hospitality, restaurants, bars, and amusements parks – and tried to keep the focus on July 4th barbecues and ball games.
He also quoted Republican lode star Ronald Reagan and his 'Morning in America' theme by pointing to economic growth figures he said weren't seen since 1984.
'The last time the economy grew at this rate was in 1984, and Ronald Reagan was telling us it's morning in America. Well, it's getting close to afternoon here, and the sun is coming out,' Biden said.
There are concerns about rising inflation amid fast growth projections, but Biden highlighted another aspect of the job market: pressure leading to rising wages.
'Employers are competing with each other to attract workers,' he said, bringing higher wages. 'It also gives them the power to be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace.'
Biden also credited the vaccine rollout as bringing back the economy. Average infections are substantially down, although there remain outbreaks of concern with variants on the rise and vaccination dramatically lower in some rural areas.
'I want to thank everyone, wish you all a happy Fourth of July. We're going to be able to go to ball games, you'll be able to sit in stadiums, you're going to be able to be with your families in backyard barbecues as we hoped. And we're going to make more progress.'