President Biden warned Thursday that food shortages are “going to be real” as a result of sanctions his administration has placed on Russia in response to the Ukraine invasion.
A reporter inquired as to whether or not the President had discussed the potential for food shortages with world leaders at the NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium.
“With regard to food shortage, yes, we did talk about food shortages,” Biden replied. “And — and it’s going to be real.”
Perhaps refreshingly, Biden admitted that the U.S. sanctions don’t just harm Russia, but ironically harm America as well: “The price of these sanctions is not just imposed upon Russia, it’s imposed upon an awful lot of countries as well, including European countries and our country as well,” he continued.
Biden described Ukraine and Russia as “the breadbasket of Europe in terms of wheat” and insisted there is a need to “increase and disseminate” food production.
NEW – Biden: “With regard to food shortage… it’s gonna be real.”pic.twitter.com/iGqFVC3UUb
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) March 24, 2022
RELATED: This Chart Shows Just How Badly Inflation Is Outpacing Any Supposed Wage Increases
Gas Prices, Inflation – Now Food Shortages
One almost dreads just how bad the potential for food shortages could be considering President Biden is willing to get out front of the situation and talk about it instead of the usual tactic of saying everything is fine.
A food crisis is just what the American people need as they currently deal with skyrocketing gas prices and historic levels of inflation in the era of “Build Back Better.”
A column earlier this week from The Political Insider demonstrates just how badly rising prices from inflation are outpacing any wage gains experienced by American workers over the past year.
Wage increases are not keeping up with inflation
Wages rose 5% over the past year, while inflation increased by 7.9%, rents in metropolitan areas jumped by 15% and gas prices soared by 40%.https://t.co/1MX3dtTZaj
— Steven Greenhouse (@greenhousenyt) March 22, 2022
President Biden assured that he had spoken with European countries and advised them to “end trade restrictions on … limitations on sending food abroad.”
“We are in the process of working out, with our European friends, what it would be — what it would take to help alleviate the concerns relative to food shortages,” he added.
Alleviate concerns. Because he handled the gas, inflation, and supply chain crises so well in the past.
Biden warns of ‘real’ food shortage following sanctions on Russia
Blame others for his Failure??https://t.co/22tAV8LZ52— Hamlet Garcia (@Hamletgarcia17) March 25, 2022
RELATED: Bloomberg Lectures Americans On Inflation: Eat Lentils, Take The Bus, And Let Your Pets Die
Eating Lentils … If They’re Available
Fortunately for the President, he has his typical built-in excuse for a food shortage crisis in Putin and the Russian invasion.
That said, you may recall it was Biden who criticized previous supply chain-related shortages at the onset of the pandemic under former President Donald Trump as a crisis of leadership.
“We don’t have a food shortage problem — we have a leadership problem,” then-candidate Biden said at a virtual town hall in May of 2020.
We don’t have a food shortage problem — we have a leadership problem. pic.twitter.com/eFpJ8PGHGM
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 21, 2020
Ironic, perhaps, that Bloomberg News is delivering a report on food shortages under Biden.
Especially considering they published an op-ed column recently that received a fair share of criticism after advising Americans on how to cope with soaring prices due to inflation.
The author advised Americans to take public transit instead of driving their own vehicles, switch their diets from meat to vegetables, and even consider letting their pets succumb to illnesses that require chemotherapy treatment.
The diet portion takes on new meaning with the backdrop of potential food shortages, however.
The column suggests Americans change their diet and “consume plants directly” instead of eating meat, specifically suggesting “lentils and beans.”
Inflation stings most if you earn less than $300K. Here’s how to deal:
➡️ Take the bus
➡️ Don’t buy in bulk
➡️ Try lentils instead of meat
➡️ Nobody said this would be fun https://t.co/HGJEoXL5ZZ— Bloomberg Opinion (@bopinion) March 19, 2022
Not only will you be eating lentils and beans under President Biden, you’ll be thankful to even see them on the shelves when you’re in the store.
Is it any wonder the American Psychological Association (APA) reported recently that Americans are experiencing “alarming” and “unprecedented” levels of stress?
Didn’t need a poll to show this
Americas are experiencing unprecedented stress levels, poll shows https://t.co/DyzKiq9yEA
— Lauren Peikoff (@laurenpeikoff) March 10, 2022
“87 percent of those surveyed cited rising costs of everyday items, such as groceries and gas, as a significant source of stress,” the APA wrote.
Biden’s admission that food shortages are a real concern comes the same week White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters there was nothing to worry about regarding supply.
“While we’re not expecting a food shortage here at home, we do anticipate that higher energy, fertilizer, wheat, and corn prices could impact the price of growing and purchasing critical fuel supply, food supplies for countries around the world,” Psaki said.
