Christian Datoc, White House correspondent for the Washington Examiner
The White House declined to say whether President Joe Biden’s policies have contributed to the historic inflation people are suffering, repeatedly pointing to upward pressure on prices from the coronavirus and the war in Ukraine.
National Economic Council Director Brian Deese and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre both fielded numerous questions on the topic during Tuesday’s press briefing, where they maintained that Biden’s “focus” is on finding solutions for addressing inflation, not discussing the exact causes. Their comments came just hours after Biden held an uncharacteristic meeting with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on the state of the economy.
“His goal right now, and what he is frustrated about, is what the American people have to go through and what they are trying to deal with as they are around their kitchen table,” Jean-Pierre suggested in one such exchange. “That is his focus right now.”