Biden Claims Oil Release Is Not Politically Motivated

Joe Biden chafed at reporters who shouted questions about whether his release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is “politically motivated” and timed for the midterm elections.

The president gave a speech Wednesday afternoon in the Roosevelt Room of The White House to announce what the press shop billed as “additional actions to strengthen energy security and lower costs.”

His topline announcement was a further release of 15 million barrels from the SPR, but the president also continued to call out oil companies he blames for drops in the per-barrel price of crude that have not translated at the gasoline pump. Biden also promised to replenish the SPR when oil hits $70 a barrel.