President Joe Biden was caught on a hot mic mocking a Fox News reporter’s loaded question (watch above).

As he was leaving a White House event highlighting the Biden administration’s attempts to lower prices for American families, reporter Peter Doocy shouted, “Do you think inflation is a political liability in the midterms?”

Biden, who apparently didn’t realize his microphone was still recording, responded sarcastically, “It’s a great asset. More inflation. What a stupid son of a bitch.”

Doocy didn’t learn about Biden’s remark until he was back in the press room. He said the president quickly called him to “clear the air.”

“Within about an hour of that exchange, he called my cellphone and he said, ‘It’s nothing personal, pal,’ ” Doocy explained on Hannity.  “I made sure to tell him that I’m always going to try to ask something different than what everybody else is asking.”

He claims the president responded, “You’ve got to.”

“And that’s a quote from the president, so I’ll keep doing it,” Doocy said.

When Mr. Hannity pressed on whether Mr. Biden had apologized, Mr. Doocy laughed and demurred. “Sean, the world is on the brink of, like, World War III right now with all this stuff going on,” he said. “I appreciate that the president took a couple minutes out this evening while he was still at the desk to give me a call and clear the air.”
The Washington Post provides context:

Biden and Doocy… have a history of often-antagonistic give and take — which the president at times has appeared to enjoy. During the 2020 campaign, Biden frequently scoffed at Doocy’s questions, which were often focused on Biden’s son, Hunter.

“I know you always ask a hostile question,” Biden told Doocy in September 2020. “But go ahead.”

Of course, Biden’s predecessor was known for his hostile relationship with the press. The Times reports:

No accident was required for Americans to hear the insults lobbed by former President Donald J. Trump at his interlocutors in the press. Mr. Trump deemed Jim Acosta of CNN “a rude, terrible person,” called Jonathan Karl of ABC “a disgrace,” and said April Ryan, now of TheGrio, was a “loser,” to name but three examples. Among other moments, Mr. Trump once mocked the physical disabilities of a Times reporter to entertain his supporters at a campaign rally.