Fact-Checkers: Biden Controls Price Decreases, But Not Increases

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jessica Walters (@quickconservative)

Post compares costs in Biden's America

The original post appeared on a number of Instagram pages in May 2021, including large conservative accounts such as @todayisamerica.

The post used Market Insiders as its source (which reliably tracks commodity pricing).

Fact-check of original post

Instagram added a fact-check disclaimer: "Missing Context: Independent fact-checkers say information in this post is missing context and could mislead people."

Fact-checkers agree that the "specific price increases claimed are roughly accurate."

However, both fact-check articles (PolitiFact and Lead Stories) displace blame from Biden and point to the impact of COVID-19.

While Biden's influence on the economy invites a much larger conversation than the topic intended in today's post, one can't help but notice a glaring absence regarding this point in both fact-check articles: As President of the United States, Biden holds more individual influence over economic performance than any other citizen in the nation. And, as President, his economic stewardship during a pandemic - and its recovery - most certainly does warrant scrutiny; with appropriate concessions, the performance of the economy during said stewardship should be weighted as a reflection upon his Presidency - as a result of both his leadership and policies.

Cookout costs decrease $0.16

In a July 2, 2021 Instagram post, the White House wrote:

Planning a cookout this year? Ketchup on the news. According to the Farm Bureau, the cost of a 4th of July BBQ is down from last year. It's a fact you must-hear(d). Hot dog, the Biden economic plan is working. And that's something we can all relish.

The post continues with an image touting:

The cost of a 4th of July cookout in 2021 is down $0.16 from last year.

Analysis

Today's Quick Conservative post questions how Biden can simultaneously be responsible for decreasing sliced cheese, pork and beans, ground beef, vanilla ice cream, center cut pork chops, fresh-squeezed lemonaide, and potato chip prices (examples provided by the White House post that "the Biden economic plan is working") and not responsible for rising coal, corn, lumber, wheat, and gas prices.

As Facebook (Instagram) has a formal policy against fact-checking politicians, it's unlikely anything will come of the White House's post. However, it would be interesting if an identical infographic was made comparing the favorable prices (e.g., sliced cheese and vanilla ice cream). Would fact-checkers label the post as "missing context" because the commodity price changes just happened to "coincide" with Biden's Presidency amidst COVID-19 recovery (like they did with the unfavorable numbers)? Most likely not.