White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stuck her foot in her mouth when pressured to explain a recent questionable move by President Joe Biden.
The president authorized the Department of Energy to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to “rapidly expand” American manufacturing of solar panel components, building insulation, heat pumps, “equipment for making and using clean electricity-generated fuels,” and power grid infrastructure.
The decision by Biden is intended to advance “clean energy” manufacturing as Democrats look to take advantage of record high energy prices to push their radical climate agenda.
Biden has gotten rather comfortable invoking the DPA, which has led critics to point out that this could be a massive abuse of power.
The Democrat president has used the DPA for the COVID-19 pandemic, materials used in the production of electric vehicle batteries, and the baby formula shortage.
At the daily press briefing, Fox Business reporter Edward Lawrence pressed Jean-Pierre to answer why exactly Biden was invoking the DPA for this particular issue.
“What emergency is the president using to invoke the Defense Production Act?” Lawrence asked. “What’s the real emergency in the solar industry for the Defense Production Act?“
Jean-Pierre responded with a vague deflection – essentially ignoring the question.
“Let me — I was going to say, first, the president — you know, when he takes the Defense Production Act, it’s to make sure that he’s delivering for the American people. It is an important tool that he has used a couple of times, and it has been incredibly effective,” she said before essentially recycling the White House’s announcement.
“But what’s the emergency in the solar industry?” Lawrence pressed.
Jean-Pierre then openly admitted that Biden is using the DPA to advance his climate agenda.
“Well, this is just a step to get to a place where we do have a clean energy arsenal. And so, this is a very important part of the president’s agenda in getting to that clean energy system that he’s been talking about since he walked into the administration,” Jean-Pierre admitted.
“So, this is that, and this is a way that we felt that we can act to get moving in that way,” she continued.
Jean-Pierre failed to clarify how exactly this DPA authorization is in response to an emergency.
Jean-Pierre was asked later how Biden’s DPA authorization is “not a gift to Chinese solar manufacturers, many of whom operate with forced labor and are subsidized by the Chinese Communist Party?“
Jean-Pierre responded that the DPA authorization does not “apply to any materials imported from China.”
Meanwhile, the president has done little to nothing to address the real issues causing high energy prices and Americans are well aware.
The president’s approval rating on gas prices sank to 27% in the most recent poll. 72% of Americans say they disapprove of Biden’s handling of gas prices, a four-point loss for the Biden administration since April.
