Infuriating indeed, but not for the reasons Joe Biden’s defenders claim. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates refused to take Biden’s call as he sought increased oil production to help lower gas prices in the US, the Wall Street Journal reports. Ostensibly, the snub relates to a demand for support against Iranian proxy terrorists, but it goes deeper than that on both ends:

The White House unsuccessfully tried to arrange calls between President Biden and the de facto leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as the U.S. was working to build international support for Ukraine and contain a surge in oil prices, said Middle East and U.S. officials.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the U.A.E.’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan both declined U.S. requests to speak to Mr. Biden in recent weeks, the officials said, as Saudi and Emirati officials have become more vocal in recent weeks in their criticism of American policy in the Gulf.