President Joe Biden was caught on camera Monday cursing about Fox News reporter Peter Doocy.
"What a stupid son of a bitch," Biden said as reporters, including Doocy, were being ushered out of a room after he made remarks about inflation. Biden spoke quietly, but the insult was caught on his microphone, which was still on. The remark was included in an official White House transcript of the president's remarks.
Doocy later said on Fox News' "Hannity" that Biden called him on the phone to discuss the matter.
"He called my cellphone and he said, 'It's nothing personal, pal,'" Doocy said on the program.
"He cleared the air and I appreciated it. We had a nice call," Doocy added.
Asked for comment, a White House official pointed to Doocy’s own remarks on Fox News.
Biden's earlier remark about Doocy came after reporters shouted questions about Ukraine. The president was taking questions about his call Monday with European leaders but complained that he doesn't like taking questions because reporters "never report on why I called the meeting."
"This is very important," he said.
Doocy, who's known for having sometimes testy exchanges with White House press secretary Jen Psaki, then asked Biden whether he'd take a question about inflation and asked whether he thought the issue is a political liability ahead of the midterm elections.
Biden turned slightly toward the person sitting next to him and said: "No, that's a great asset — more inflation. What a stupid son of a bitch."
Doocy laughed off the comment in an appearance on the network Monday before going on "Hannity."
"Nobody has fact-checked him yet and said it's not true," Doocy said.
Doocy, the son of "Fox & Friends" host Steve Doocy, has a history of exasperating Biden. In August, Biden exaggeratedly hung his head while Doocy was asking him about the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
In November, Biden snapped at Doocy when he asked him whether the administration was providing incentives for illegal immigration by discussing large financial settlements with victims of the Trump administration's family separation policy. "If you guys keep sending that garbage out, yeah. But it's not true," Biden replied.
The frustration preceded Biden's presidency. Doocy would often ask Biden about his son Hunter Biden's personal and business dealings during the 2020 campaign, clearly annoying him. In one instance, Doocy asked Biden whether his son had fathered a child in Arkansas. "Only you would ask that," Biden snapped back, adding sarcastically: "You're a good man. Classy."
On another occasion, Doocy asked Biden who his running mate was going to be. "You," Biden replied.
Biden has famously been caught on a hot mic before. In 2010, he was overheard telling President Barack Obama that the health care bill he was about to sign was a "big f------ deal."
