Wolf Blitzer Called Out for ‘Misleading’ Photo of Gas Prices at DC Exxon

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.

FYI. Gas prices today here in Washington DC. pic.twitter.com/cF4W2xWZvb

— Wolf Blitzer (@wolfblitzer) November 9, 2021

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.

The average price for a gallon of regular grade gas in DC today was $3.60, according to @AAAnews. https://t.co/8gS9fYlQnJ https://t.co/50U9yMYzDX

— Sylvan Lane (@SylvanLane) November 9, 2021

Financial Times correspondent Justin Jacobs:

Gas prices are up a lot this year but this is a notoriously overpriced Exxon station near Congress/Union Station https://t.co/TvCdhkG7GL

— Justin Jacobs (@justinjfj) November 10, 2021

The “Gas Buddy” app:

Did you forget to check the GasBuddy app again, @wolfblitzer? Gas prices in D.C. are averaging about $3.59 right now – we can help you get a better price! https://t.co/hb1Xdq8lC5

— GasBuddy (@GasBuddy) November 9, 2021

Let’s talk about it, @wolfblitzer !

— Patrick De Haan ⛽️📊 (@GasBuddyGuy) November 9, 2021

Bloomberg editor Andrew Small:

I’ll take “Misleading gas prices for $400, Alex!”

Ok here’s the clue: “It’s the most expensive place in town, just across from the Senate down the street from CNN’s DC headquarters. Nevermind, that today it’s $3.09/gallon at two Georgia Avenue locations.” https://t.co/3RJaTqAHaB

— —Andrew Small (@asmall_word) November 9, 2021

Reason‘s CJ Ciaramella:

This is a well-known, comically expensive gas station in DC, and also approximately what Wolf pays for a french fry at The Palm https://t.co/a14O3XSa8P

— CJ Ciaramella (@cjciaramella) November 10, 2021

Isn’t that the full-service Exxon on Independence/4th (or so)?

— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) November 10, 2021

.@wolfblitzer, please stop this. There’s a handful of comically expensive gas stations around D.C., and that you happen to live or work by one does not mean it is representative! The citywide average for regular gas this week is $3.62, about 20 cents above the national average. https://t.co/1YX2fWG4K3

— Martin Austermuhle (@maustermuhle) November 10, 2021

I walked past the gas station near my apartment yesterday afternoon in Dupont Circle and the price for regular was $3.63 a gallon. The more you know!

— Michael K. Lavers (He/Él) (@mklavers81) November 10, 2021

it’s a total coincidence that Blitzer is tweeting out GOP talking points https://t.co/1lnUvDdqu2

— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) November 10, 2021

Check on Wolf and make sure he doesn’t think it’s milk from another dumb inflation anecdote and drink it. https://t.co/GlkC4i0c09

— Brian McFadden (@BrianMc_Fadden) November 9, 2021

This is a textbook example of an elite journalist making a completely anecdotal-based conclusion from an outlier situation and applying it to the issue at large. This is the same thing CNN did with the milk story. It’s a pattern and it aids the right. https://t.co/2YN4u2mEqJ

— Oliver Willis (@owillis) November 10, 2021

This is misleading. The *average* gas price in DC right now is about $3.55. This one Exxon Blitzer took a picture of is right across the street from Union Station, and it’s always higher than average because it’s where tourists and business travelers fill up their rental cars. https://t.co/ELGL82ehtK

— Matthew Chapman (@fawfulfan) November 10, 2021

Gas prices in the incredibly wealthy neighborhood I live in.

There I fixed it for you, Wolf. https://t.co/ojrrqmDmTH

— Chad Kirchner (@chadkirchner) November 10, 2021

Activist Charlotte Clymer did a thread calling Blitzer’s photo “extremely misleading” and featuring web research showing $2.97-per-gallon gas elsewhere in the district.

Hi there, I live in D.C. and when I saw this post, I was deeply skeptical because I haven’t seen gas prices this high anywhere in the District. So, I did some digging.

Summary: yes, Mr. Blitzer’s pic here is accurate and also extremely misleading. Here’s why…

(thread) https://t.co/AQQDYZEPdP

— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️‍🌈 (@cmclymer) November 10, 2021

As I recall, this is at least twice @wolfblitzer has posted prices from this same gas station on the corner of 2nd and Penn NE – famously has prices ~$1 more expensive than literally everywhere else around. https://t.co/b2ZjPIqZAj

— Gabrielle Levy 🤦🏻‍♀️ (@gabbilevy) November 10, 2021

Former Media Matters editor Parker Malloy found similar information.

Current average in DC is $3.58, with some in the district as low as $2.97 a gallon. For some reason, @wolfblitzer decided to take a photo of the most extreme outlier in all of DC to present it as “gas prices here in Washington DC.” https://t.co/tDceDeJxkw pic.twitter.com/iABIlwBXWi

— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) November 10, 2021

Blitzer’s tweet did get some amplification. Conservative host Tony Katz wrote “When you’ve lost Wolf Blitzer…”

When you’ve lost @wolfblitzer…..#Bidenflation https://t.co/m9HessfBoJ

— Tony Katz (@tonykatz) November 9, 2021

Fox News multimedia reporter Jayla Whitfield tweeted “Whew!” with a mind: blown emoji.

Whew!🤯 https://t.co/u3XdjIdizY

— Jayla Whitfield (@JaylaWhitfield) November 10, 2021

For what it’s worth, the gas station Blitzer photographed is located within walking distance of CNN’s Washington, DC headquarters.