Biden says critics of high gas prices willing to accept ‘Putin’s iron fist’

President Joe Biden debuted a new messaging strategy that seeks to reframe the gasoline debate in a manner that shields the White House from criticism over historically high prices at the pump.

For months, Biden had blamed the current inflationary run, specifically skyrocketing gas and diesel costs, on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to wage war against Ukraine.

During his Wednesday remarks calling for a three-month suspension of federal gasoline and diesel taxes, the president reiterated that rhetoric but additionally sought to claim that criticism raised by Republican lawmakers about how Biden’s strategy had led to higher gas prices amounted to a lack of support for Ukraine — or even complicit support of Russian aggression.