Paul Ryan slams President Biden on energy policy, claims left wing is controlling him

WASHINGTON (TND) — Former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Paul Ryan criticized President Biden's energy policies Tuesday, claiming "there's so much more that [Biden] could do" to reduce gas prices.

During an interview on The Armstrong Williams Show, Ryan said the Biden administration won't take steps to create American energy independence because of pressure from within the Democratic Party.

"Keystone is just one of many things that he could have. But again, the left doesn't want him to make carbon prices lower. The left doesn't want him to open American energy security and energy production. So he's not," Ryan said.

The criticism comes as the average price for a gallon of gas in the United States continues to climb. Experts expect the national average to reach $5 per gallon soon, though several states have already eclipsed that mark.

Beyond just energy policy, Ryan believes the Biden administration made a fatal mistake by allegedly governing too far to the left.

"The problem is he gave the keys to the left. If he governed in the middle and tried to get good centrist deals, he could have gotten it. But now, it's past that time. We're in campaign season now. So I think the die is cast, and that's why I think we're going to get a majority," Ryan said.

At the same time, Ryan urged Americans to remember the power they wield in their own communities and warned against overreliance on the federal government.

"Let's not think that Washington solves every problem. Let's remember we ourselves in our communities, in our churches, in our civic institutions and our local governments, that's really where we live our lives. That's really where we need to reinvigorate our activities," Ryan said.