This archive report was first published on 25 January 2022.
On January 24, 2022, a live microphone caught US President Joe Biden making a disparaging comment about a Fox News journalist during a White House photo opportunity.
As journalists were leaving the room, a reporter from Fox News asked Biden about inflation, a topic that has been a point of contention for the administration.
Biden, possibly unaware that his microphone was still on, responded with a deadpan comment: 'It's a great asset. More inflation.'
He then muttered under his breath, 'What a stupid son of a bitch,' before glancing briefly down.
A pool reporter in the room admitted to not being able to hear what Biden said, but suggested that viewers watch the video of the event to see how the president really felt about being asked about inflation by Fox News' Peter Doocy.
Doocy, the Fox News journalist, shrugged off the insult in a later interview, saying, 'Yeah, nobody has fact-checked him yet and said it's not true.'
The White House appeared to have no qualms about owning the comment, including it in the official transcript of the event.
As one White House correspondent noted, 'Just adds a certain something' to the official record.
