- Joe Biden, 81, visited Nowhere Coffee Co. on Jan. 12. in Allentown, where he emphasized the value of small businesses and ordered a mango drink
- He went to the press and offered to buy them coffee, but was reportedly surprised by the price of a $6 smoothie
- White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was questioned during a press conference on Thursday about whether Biden was out of touch with reality
The White House press secretary has dodged questions about Joe Biden’s apparent surprise over the cost of a $6 smoothie in Pennsylvania and whether he is out of touch with the prices faced by ordinary Americans.
The president, 81, visited Nowhere Coffee Co. on Jan. 12. in Allentown, where he emphasized the value of small businesses and ordered what appeared to be a mango drink.
He went to the press and offered to buy them coffee, but was reportedly surprised by the price of a $6 smoothie.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was questioned during a press conference on Thursday about whether Biden was out of touch with reality.
But she dismissed the question, claiming the president was only “joking.”
The president, 81, visited Nowhere Coffee Co. on Jan. 12. in Allentown, where he emphasized the value of small businesses and ordered what appeared to be a mango drink. But he seemed surprised when he discovered a smoothie cost $6
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Dodged a Question About Joe Biden’s Apparent Surprise
Biden visited several small businesses in an effort to promote his economic record, but was apparently shocked when a smoothie set him back $6.
“Last Friday, the president was at a coffee shop in Pennsylvania, and he seemed surprised that the smoothie cost $6 and how expensive it was,” a reporter told Jean-Pierre.
‘I’m curious. Does the president now realize the costs the Americans are bearing?’
She replied, “Look, when he went to you guys, to the press corps, he was having a good time, right? And, as you know, offered to buy them coffee.
‘There was a large group there and he made sure everyone got coffee and cake. So I want to make that very clear.”
Jean-Pierre was asked again, but she pointed out that the trip was about small businesses and credited Biden with giving Americans confidence through the American Rescue Plan.
‘That’s a big problem. That’s very important,” she said.
“What that means is they have the confidence. Small businesses, the people who start them, have the confidence in the economy to start a business.”
But the White House press secretary continued to ignore questions about the smoothie price.
“But why was he so surprised that the costs were so expensive?” the reporter asked again.
Biden visited several small businesses in an attempt to discuss his economic record, but was apparently shocked when a smoothie set him back $6.
‘He was joking. He was definitely joking with the press,” Jean-Pierre said
‘He was joking. He must have been joking with the press,” Jean-Pierre replied.
‘He offered to buy coffee. That’s what he did, and pastries. But I think the most important thing about that trip is that he was able to visit a small company.’
US households have suffered increased financial pressure due to high inflation.
Americans are being forced to pay more for essentials like food and rent, which have increased by 34 percent and 19 percent, respectively, since 2021. While energy prices have risen by 33 percent.
According to Moody’s Analytics, the average household is forced to spend $211 more per month for the same services compared to a year ago.
In total, consumers are paying $1,020 more every month compared to two years ago.
It comes as a recent Bankrate survey found that half of Americans believe their financial situation has worsened since Biden was elected in 2020.