Pressure is mounting on President Biden to ban Russian oil imports.
So far, Biden is resisting the pressure. “We don’t have a strategic interest in reducing the global supply of energy,” said principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, according to CNN.
Press Secretary Jenn Psaki faced questions on the possible ban and the possibility of increasing domestic oil production and she defended Biden and blamed oil companies for high oil prices.
Jen Psaki: "The Keystone Pipeline has never been operational, it would take years for that to have any impact… it would have no impact on what the problem is." pic.twitter.com/dtndC44EQ1
— ForAmerica (@ForAmerica) March 3, 2022
Biden ignored a question about banning oil from Russia.
REPORTER: “Will you ban Russian oil?”
BIDEN STAFFER: “He said ‘no!' LET'S GO!”
REPORTERS: “No, he didn't." "He didn't respond to anything." pic.twitter.com/cgmR7P4V0J
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 3, 2022
Adding to the pressure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to U.S. Congress and asked for the U.S. to ban Russian oil.
The New York Times reports:
Mr. Zelensky told lawmakers that a ban on Russian oil would be “even more powerful” than removing some Russian banks from the SWIFT financial messaging system, according to Senator Dan Sullivan, Republican of Alaska.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) criticized Biden’s energy policy.
President Biden has imposed more restrictions on U.S. oil companies than he has on Russian oil.https://t.co/Bieq8CNxNx pic.twitter.com/NccbR68wab
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) March 4, 2022
The call for banning Russian oil is bipartisan.
Senator Joe Manchin (D-VWA) wants a ban on Russian petroleum products.
WATCH: It makes no sense at all for the United States to be buying millions of barrels of Russian oil and other petroleum products while Russia attacks the free and sovereign nation of Ukraine. That's why I'm calling on @POTUS to immediately stop all imports from Russia. pic.twitter.com/2Npde27X31
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) March 1, 2022
Even House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) wants a ban.
Add Pelosi to the growing list of lawmakers who want to ban Russian oil imports.
"I'm all for that," she said. "Ban it."https://t.co/VnNf6Jt5Hx
— POLITICO (@politico) March 3, 2022
Biden should implement a ban on Russian oil as a way to stop funding Russian President Putin’s military.
Politics is the reason why Biden will not block Russian oil imports because it would make gasoline and home heating oil even higher and that’s bad for Democrats running for Congress this year.
