No, Biden’s press secretary didn’t refuse to answer questions. The video is edited.

Karine Jean-Pierre, President Joe Biden’s press secretary, did not abruptly end a press conference to avoid answering a question about fossil fuel production. The 2022 video was edited to remove Jean-Pierre’s response. 

An Instagram video shows Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asking Jean-Pierre, "So you’re asking oil companies to further lower gas prices. What makes you think they’re going to listen to an administration that is ultimately trying to put them out of business?"

The video shows Jean-Pierre responding by asking, "How is the administration trying to put them out of business?" Doocy then tells her, "They produce fossil fuels. And this president says he wants to end fossil fuels."

Pierre then says, "Thanks everybody," signaling that the meeting is over. The Instagram video ends with a clip of comedian Dave Chappelle saying "Gotcha b—!" 

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Threads posts

stated on October 26, 2024 in a Threads post

Four Florida counties had “zero results” Oct. 26, and “something underhanded might be happening.”

Many users criticized Jean-Pierre in the post’s comments. One user said, "Why can’t she just answer a question," and another wrote, "this woman is rude every time he has a question she runs away … "

The full video from the Oct. 19, 2022, press conference and White House transcript shows Jean-Pierre answering Doocy’s question. She says: 

"So look, I — you kind of asked me this question yesterday. And here’s — here’s where — what we would say: U.S. oil production is up and on track to reach a record high next year. We’ve seen that from their — from when we see their profit margins. They are —  they — you know, it’s record high. And so, in fact, the United States has produced more oil in President Biden’s first year than under Trump’s administration’s first year. But at the same time, oil companies are raking in record profits while more than 9,000 approved drilling permits remain untapped by the oil industry. There is no shortage of opportunity or incentive for all companies to ramp up production. This is something they can actually do. It is available to them. They can do this. And also, they’re getting the profits. And so, because they’re getting — I just showed 60 cents on the chart — more profit — right? — that they — that we’re seeing higher — more higher costs that we’re seeing that what — than what retailers are paying at the pump. They can bring that down. They’ve done it before. You saw that at the chart, in the beginning. They were able to bring prices down." 

Doocy then asks another question about whether Biden agrees with a statement by Stacey Abrams, then a Democratic candidate for Georgia governor. Jean-Pierre says she won’t comment. Several other reporters asked questions that Jean-Pierre answers before she thanks the audience and leaves.

We rate the claim that Jean-Pierre ended a White House press conference to avoid answering a question False.