WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden called Fox News White House reporter Peter Doocy "a stupid son of a bitch" Monday on a live microphone, after Doocy asked Biden whether inflation was a political liability for him.
The verbal slip took place during a White House event on Biden administration efforts to combat inflation. After the president complained that all the press questions were about the military buildup around Ukraine, Doocy shouted: "Will you take questions about inflation? Do you think inflation is a political liability ahead of the midterms?"
Thinking his microphone was turned off, Biden responded sarcastically: "No, that's a great asset. More inflation."
He added, "What a stupid son of a bitch."
Doocy said later Monday evening that Biden called him later in the afternoon to apologize for the remark. The White House did not respond to CNBC's request for comment.
Doocy regularly baits Biden during press events, shouting over other reporters and trying to catch the president off guard.
Biden has a long record of swearing on hot microphones, so the comments were not entirely out of character.
In 2010, Biden was famously caught cursing when celebrating the passage of the Affordable Care Act with then-President Barack Obama.