Biden gets praise, criticism for calling Russia's actions in Ukraine 'genocide'

President Joe Biden doubled down on describing Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine as "genocide" as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed.

President Joe Biden is getting both praise and criticism after doubling down on describing Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine as "genocide" -- the first time he's used the term since the invasion began nearly 50 days ago -- even as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for weeks has claimed that is what's happening on the ground.

During prepared remarks in Iowa Tuesday blaming inflation and gas prices on "Putin's price hike," Biden said, "Your family budget, your ability to fill up your tank, none of it should on hinge on whether a dictator declares war and commits genocide half a world away."

His use of the word raised questions among Washington reporters about whether it was an ad-libbed moment or a policy shift from the White House -- until Biden later insisted he meant exactly what said.

"Yes, I called it genocide," Biden told reporters after his remarks. "Because it has become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being able to be a Ukrainian. And the evidence is mounting. It's different than it was last week, the more evidence is coming out of the -- literally, the horrible things that the Russians have done in Ukraine and we're going to only learn more and more about the devastation."