WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden responded to a question about inflation by calling a Fox News reporter a vulgarity.
The president was in the East Room of the White House for a meeting of his Competition Council, which is focused on changing regulations and enforcing laws to help consumers deal with high prices. After Biden spoke, reporters in the room shouted a number of questions.
Peter Doocy asked Biden about inflation, which is at a nearly 40 year high and has hurt the president's public approval. The network of Doocy has been critical of Biden.
Do you think inflation is a political liability ahead of the midterms? Biden responded with sarcasm, It is a great asset - more inflation. He shook his head and said, What a stupid son of a bitch. His comments were captured on video and by the microphone in front of him. Doocy laughed it off in a subsequent appearance on his network, joked, Nobody has fact-checked him yet and said it's not true. The White House didn't respond immediately to a request for comment.
The White House insists that it is focused on curbing inflation, with Biden reorienting his entire economic agenda around the issue. The president has shown a willingness to challenge media that he considers to be too critical, especially Fox News and Doocy.
At his news conference last week, Biden said to Doocy with sarcasm, You always ask me the nicest questions. The reporter said that they had a whole binder full.
Biden said, "I know you do."