The Biden administration took credit for lower gas prices this week, which was derided on social media as being similar to when an "arsonist takes credit for putting out a fire."

The official White House X, formerly Twitter, account put out a post on Monday looking to gin up economic optimism ahead of the holiday season.

"Gas prices are down $1.70 from their peak – just in time for holiday travel. Lowering costs for families continues to be President Biden’s top economic priority," the White House posted. 

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Rising gas prices

The Biden Administration got hit on social media for a post bragging about lowering gas prices.  (Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Last year, the national average price of gas was nearly $5 a gallon with some states like California seeing prices around $6. The current national gas average recorded by AAA is $3.295.

Towards the end of President Trump’s term in November 2020, AAA showed the national average was $2.113 per gallon.

Critics dumped on the White House, accusing President Biden of contributing to the high prices that he claims to have lowered. Some added that even with the current drop, prices aren’t nearly as low as they were during the previous administration.

"Arsonist takes credit for putting out fire. Gas still isn’t even close to what it was when Biden took office ($2.39/gallon)," GOP rapid response director Jake Schneider responded. 

Heartland Institute's Justin Haskins commented, "Just to be clear, though, costs have gone way, way, way up since @JoeBiden became president. Almost nothing is more affordable, including gas, which is significantly more expensive!"

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President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden

President Joe Biden's administration oversaw some of the highest national average gas prices in U.S. history  (Julia Nikhinson/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

"Based on the reactions to this… I'm starting to think that maybe this whole treating people like they are utterly and completely beyond stupid is a strategy that is not resonating well," Fox News contributor Joe Concha wrote. 

The Log Cabin Republicans' Los Angeles chapter posted, "It’s $4.75 a gallon here! Stop bragging."

Twitchy.com editor @Politibunny wrote, "You don’t get credit for jacking up prices like crazy and then bringing them down a teensy bit. Not to mention you blamed Putin for the increase and said you had no control over it."

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