DeSantis: Biden is Trying to ‘Gaslight’ Americans Over Recession Claims as GDP Falls for 2nd Straight Quarter

July 28, 2022 Updated 1:47 P.M. ET

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis said the White House is trying to “gaslight” Americans as President Joe Biden rejects claims that the U.S. is in a recession following GDP shrinking for a second quarter in a row.

A new report said the U.S. economy contracted 0.9%, making it the second-straight quarter of the economy contracting.

“U.S. GDP dropped for a second quarter in a row, which is the definition of a recession,” DeSantis said Thursday.

However, the White House sent out a statement saying it is “no surprise” that the economy is slowing down and that the job market “remains historically strong.” The administration had previously told Americans not to judge the economy by GDP or inflation alone.

“Coming off of last year’s historic economic growth – and regaining all the private sector jobs lost during the pandemic crisis – it’s no surprise that the economy is slowing down as the Federal Reserve acts to bring down inflation,” President Joe Biden said.

The technical definition of a recession has been two consecutive quarters of negative growth as reported by CNN in 2015 and other online education sites. The National Bureau of Economic Research said that a “recession involves a significant decline in economic activity that is spread across the economy and lasts more than a few months.”

“While the Biden Administration and its legacy media cheerleaders are trying to gaslight people about the economic slowdown, we have seen Biden’s poor economic stewardship and the negative impact it has had on families,” DeSantis said.

The governor has continuously criticized the Biden Administration for its energy and spending policies. DeSantis criticized President Biden for his plan to bring down inflation.

“My economic plan is focused on bringing inflation down, without giving up all the economic gains we have made. Congress has an historic chance to do that by passing the CHIPS and Science Act and Inflation Reduction Act without delay,” Biden said.

The Inflation Reduction Act would reportedly invest in domestic energy production and manufacturing, extend the Affordable Care Act program through 2025, and allow Medicare to negotiate for prescription drugs.

“Now, Biden wants to tax and spend even more, which will only make things worse,” DeSantis said.