Every week someone in politics says something so confidently wrong it deserves a trophy. This week’s winner? Vice President JD Vance.

JD Vance recently claimed that today’s gas prices are still the fault of former president Joe Biden. According to Vance, the pain drivers feel at the pump today can be traced back to policies put in place years ago.

There’s just one small problem with that argument.

Gas prices don’t work that way.

The “Blame Biden Forever” Theory

Vance’s comments follow a familiar political playbook: if something costs more than people like, blame the last guy. Preferably the last guy from the other party.

But economists generally point out that gas prices move based on a long list of factors that have nothing to do with a single president:

• global oil supply
• conflicts affecting oil shipments
• refinery capacity
• market speculation
• decisions made by oil-producing nations

In other words, gasoline prices are shaped by a global market — not a magic “Make Gas Expensive” button sitting on the desk in the Oval Office.

The Timing Problem

There’s also the issue of timing.

Presidential policies can influence energy markets, but those effects usually take years to show up. Blaming current prices on a previous administration long after they’ve left office is a bit like blaming your old landlord for the rent increase in your new apartment.

It might make for a great soundbite, but it doesn’t survive much scrutiny.

Why Politicians Love Gas Prices

Gasoline is political gold.

People see the price every time they drive past a gas station, which makes it one of the easiest ways for politicians to stir up anger.

And when anger is the goal, nuance usually gets tossed out the window.

The Final Verdict

So congratulations to JD Vance, our FBJ of the Week.

Because when gas prices go up, there are dozens of complicated reasons behind it.

But apparently the simplest explanation is still the most popular one in politics:

Blame the guy who isn’t even in charge anymore. ⛽🤦‍♂️