On 6/7/2022, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre answered questions for about 20 minutes after actor Matthew McConaughey gave an address. Jean-Pierre claimed the economy is in a better place now that it has been historically. Fox News reporter Peter Doocy challenged Jean-Pierre, “Why do you think it is that 83 percent of people polled by The Wall Street Journal say the economy is “poor” or “not so good”?”
Jean-Pierre: … the fact is: We are in a fundamentally different place compared to when the President took office and compared to this time a year ago. And so, you know, during this President — during his pres- — this presidency, people felt uncertainty — uncertain about the economy generally, but they actually felt as good about their personal financial situations as they ever have, according to the Federal Reserve survey, with nearly 80 percent of adults reporting that they are financially comfortable. So, that matters as well.
Doocy: But to the point about the — you’re saying that people feel good about their personal financial situation. High gas prices, people can’t get baby formula, the supply chain is messed up, everything is more expensive. Where’s the good part?
Jean-Pierre: So, the survey that I just read off started in 2013. And that is the first time that we saw numbers like this since 2013. So that does — no, that does mean something. Just like you gave me 83 percent, I’m giving you —
Doocy: And I understand that. Another number then —
Jean-Pierre: I —
Doocy: — newer than 2013, 61 percent are saying now, in this Wall Street Journal poll, they are generally pessimistic about people having an opportunity to achieve the American Dream. How’s that going look on a — on a bumper sticker?
Jean-Pierre: So, what I’m — I guess what I’m trying to say, Peter, is that we understand that people are feeling — feeling this. They are feeling the increase of prices, which — with food, in particular, right now, and gas. That is — that is something that we understand. What we’re trying to say, what I’m trying to say to you is that the economy is in a better place than it has been historically.
And so, we feel, here at this administration and other experts as well, is that — we feel that we are in a good position to take on inflation. … And so, that’s what we’re saying. We’re trying to — what we’re saying is that we were in a different place a year ago, and now we are in a much better place economically. But there’s still work to do, and we understand that.
Doocy: Okay. And then, just quickly, on gas prices. The Energy Secretary, Granholm, is saying, “Oh, well, if you went to Canada, you’d be paying $6.25 a gallon. If you went to Germany, you’d be paying over $8.80. In the UK, it’s almost $8 a gallon.” What kind of an argument is that: “Just be happy you don’t live in Munich”?
Jean-Pierre: I think what she was — what she’s trying to say and what we have all been trying to say is this is a global challenge. This is not just in the United States that people are feeling inflation or people are seeing elevated gas prices. This is a global challenge.
Doocy: And isn’t it the President’s job to protect Americans from global challenges?
Jean-Pierre: He’s doing — he’s doing his part in trying to make sure that … The President has done — he’s tapped into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve … So, we know there is more to do. We’re not disagreeing here. We know that there is more to do.
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White House: Economy in Better Place Than Historically, Fundamentally Different Place, No Clue Why Americans Sour On Economy,