CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer faced stiff backlash on Twitter when he posted a photo depicting high gas prices at a DC Exxon station that many users found misleading.
Gas prices have become a go-to rejoinder for critics of President Joe Biden and a symbol of concerns over inflation, and many Twitter users saw Blitzer as throwing fuel on the fire when he posted a photograph that featured $4.29-per-gallon regular (and $4.79 super) at an Exxon station.
“FYI. Gas prices today here in Washington DC,” Blitzer wrote above the photo.
The tweet prompted many journalists, left-leaning media figures, and other verified users to point out that Blitzer’s selection was not exactly representative.
The Hill’s Sylvan Lane noted “The average price for a gallon of regular grade gas in DC today was $3.60” according to AAA.
Financial Times correspondent Justin Jacobs:
The “Gas Buddy” app:
Bloomberg editor Andrew Small:
Reason‘s CJ Ciaramella:
Activist Charlotte Clymer did a thread calling Blitzer’s photo “extremely misleading” and
Former Media Matters editor Parker Malloy found similar information.
Blitzer’s tweet did get some amplification. Conservative host Tony Katz wrote “When you’ve lost Wolf Blitzer…”
Fox News multimedia reporter Jayla Whitfield tweeted “Whew!” with a mind: blown emoji.
For what it’s worth, the gas station Blitzer photographed is located within walking distance of CNN’s Washington, DC headquarters.