White House hits back at Jeff Bezos, saying it's 'not surprising' he thinks oil and gas companies should 'reap record profits at the expense of the American people'

Bezos accused Biden of missing the mark on why gas prices are high, and the White House criticized him.

Biden suggested on Saturday that gas sellers were taking advantage of the war in Ukraine by setting too high a price for gas.

"My message to the companies running gas stations and setting prices at the pump is simple," Biden said. The price at the pump should reflect the cost of the product. Do it right now.

Bezos responded to the president in a way that made him cringe. The White House doesn't want inflation to be a problem. Either it is straight ahead misdirection or a deep misunderstanding of basic market dynamics.

The White House Press Secretary disagreed with Biden.

The price of oil has fallen over the past month, but the price at the pump hasn't budged. That isn't a basic market dynamics. She said that the market was failing the American consumer.

"But I guess it's not surprising that you think oil and gas companies use market power to reap record profits at the expense of the American people is the way our economy is supposed to work," she said.

The president's defense was supported by another White House official. John Kirby said on Fox News Sunday that Biden "tells exactly what he's thinking in terms that everybody can understand."

Russia's war in Ukraine and oil and gas companies are to blame for record inflation in the US, according to Biden.

The president criticized Exxon Mobil for making more money than God this year, while Americans pay record high prices at the pump. The oil company CEOs were encouraged to do more to lower gas prices.

Bezos has clashed with the White House on a number of occasions. Bezos called it "misdirection" after Biden said corporations should pay their fair share of taxes.