Fox News reporter Peter Doocy seemed to get a good laugh after President Biden called him a “stupid son of a bitch,” indicating he may embrace the label and wondering if anybody has fact-checked the claim yet.
Doocy, at a press event on Monday, shouted a question about whether or not inflation could be viewed as a “political liability” with the midterm elections approaching.
The economy in general and the high cost of inflation remain top concerns among American voters.
Biden sarcastically responded, “It’s a great asset. More inflation.”
He then muttered, “What a stupid son of a bitch” on what was apparently a hot mic.
The President of the United States just called Peter Doocy “a stupid son-of-a-bitch.” pic.twitter.com/rQQo3n1IZ7
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 24, 2022
RELATED: Fox News’ Doocy Grills Psaki On Crime Spiking In Major Cities
Peter Doocy Laughs About Biden’s Insult
Peter Doocy though seemed to take the whole thing in stride in an interview shortly thereafter on “The Five.”
“So Doocy, I think the president’s right, you are a stupid SOB,” host Jesse Watters joked.
“Yeah, nobody has fact-checked him yet and said it’s not true,” Doocy replied.
Doocy has a good laugh about it:
“Nobody has fact checked him yet”
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 24, 2022
“So you’re now, I guess, everyone’s talking about you. You’re gonna be known as the stupid SOB guy,” Watters continued. “I mean, before, you were like the hair guy, with the blonde hair. Now you’re a stupid SOB! Is this something you’re embracing, Peter?”
“Do I have a choice?” Doocy said to laughter from the rest of the hosts.
This is what’s known as “projection.”
— Rusty Weiss ?? (@rustyweiss74) January 24, 2022
President Biden reportedly called Doocy to “clear the air” on the statements which we will concede is the right and classy move.
Biden, according to Fox News, told Doocy that his comments were “nothing personal” and encouraged him to “continue asking about different topics than the rest of the press corps.”
To be fair, an admirable request from the President.
UPDATE: @POTUS said, “It’s nothing personal, pal,” to Fox News Reporter Peter Doocy
WATCH: https://t.co/fPCVZvHQbJ
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 25, 2022
Many were wondering about the double standards, like conservative “Hercules” and “Andromeda” actor Kevin Sorbo:
But #45 was “unpresidential.” Got it. https://t.co/kMRYM4PGvV
— Kevin Sorbo (@ksorbs) January 24, 2022
Nothing Personal
Doocy later revealed that the President remarked that his snide comments were “nothing personal, pal.”
But this isn’t the first time in recent history that the President has insulted a reporter specifically from Fox News.
‘NOTHING PERSONAL, PAL’: @pdoocy explains taking phone call from president after curse out. pic.twitter.com/W447ChX4NX
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 25, 2022
Just last week a frustrated President Biden chastised Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich, who had shouted out a question about tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
“Why are you waiting on Putin to make the first move, sir?” Heinrich asked.
“What a stupid question,” Biden replied.
REPORTER: “Why are you waiting on Putin to make the first move, sir?”
BIDEN: “What a stupid question.” pic.twitter.com/rcKxNePAR3
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 20, 2022
Naturally, the folks over at CNN responded to President Biden’s insult of Peter Doocy with the same outrage they did every time former President Trump disparaged reporters.
Just kidding. JV media personality Brian Stelter couldn’t help but marvel at Biden’s comedic delivery.
In fact, CNN reporters all seemed to enjoy the joke.
.@CNN has received the talking points pic.twitter.com/Ve8daxHK2a
— Abigail Marone ?? (@abigailmarone) January 24, 2022
In 2018, Stelter practically had a coronary when Trump used the same phrase to describe a reporter.
“Calling a journalist a ‘son of a bitch?'” Stelter fretted at the time. “It was wrong when Trump was just a candidate, and it’s even worse now that he’s POTUS.”
Now, it’s just Biden ‘deadpanning.’
Calling a journalist a “son of a bitch?” It was wrong when Trump was just a candidate, and it’s even worse now that he’s POTUS… https://t.co/lbWudjumJh pic.twitter.com/LugJKLMvp8
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 12, 2018
There’s little doubt that had this incident involved Jim Acosta being insulted by Trump, there would be no joking around about the incident with his colleagues on the anti-Trump network.
Acosta likely would have appeared in a segment wearing a neck brace and being led to the cameras with the aid of a cane and seeing eye dog, where he could then discuss his heroic efforts at restoring media norms despite a dictator in the Oval Office.
Doocy just laughs it off and will continue asking tough questions. Like a normal person.
As Biden was entering the White House a year ago, journalists across the nation were celebrating a return to decency.
Biden Tells Staff Members ‘I Will Fire You’ If They Disrespect Others @LivingFreeorDie https://t.co/SY0PUPjVrj
— HOSS ????? (@LivingFreeorDie) January 24, 2022
“I’m not joking when I say this: If you’re ever working with me and I hear you treat another with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot,” Biden said. “On the spot. No if, ands, or buts.”
President Biden doesn’t seem to be living up to his own standards.