MENLO, Iowa (Fwrd Axis) — President Joe Biden placed the blame for the spike in gas prices on a “dictator” who committed “genocide half a world away”, seemingly referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Speaking in Iowa, the President slammed Putin for his war in Ukraine affecting economies around the world, resulting in gas prices spiking in the U.S. and around the globe.
“Your family budget, your ability to fill up your tank, none of it should hinge on whether a dictator declares war and commits genocide half a world away,” said Biden.
It marks the first time Biden has used the term after he stopped himself from calling the atrocities in Bucha a genocide on April 5. At the time, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that the killings so far in Ukraine did not rise to the level of “genocide” as defined by the U.S. government.
The official definition of “genocide” by the United States is “an act against members of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part.”
As he was departing Iowa on Air Force One, Biden stuck by his comments, labeling Putin a dictator and calling his actions a genocide.
“Yes, I called it genocide because it’s become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being Ukrainian,” the President said. “It’s a horrible thing that the Russians have done in Ukraine.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the killings in Bucha a genocide and praised Biden for using the term.
“Calling things by their names is essential to stand up to evil,” he tweeted late Tuesday. “We are grateful for US assistance provided so far and we urgently need more heavy weapons to prevent further Russian atrocities.”
