President Joe Biden and Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy got into a testy exchange on Monday over the President's planned response to Russia's potential use of chemical weapons amid the crisis in Ukraine.
The back and forth started when Doocy asked a question during a press conference about how Biden's so-called "walk-back" on certain statements related to Russia will be taken by the rest of the world.
Particularly on the topic of chemical weapon use by Russia, Doocy said:
"When you said that a chemical weapon use by Russia would trigger a response in kind..."
Biden responded:
"It would trigger a significant response."
Doocy followed up by asking what that response would be. Biden then derailed the questioning.
He said the following:
"I'm not going to tell you."
"Why would I tell you?"
"You've got to be silly!"
Doocy chirped back:
"The world wants to know."
To this Biden said:
"The world wants to know a lot of things."
"I'm not telling them what the response would be."
"Then Russia knows the response."
Biden then moved on to other questions.
You can watch the video of the press conference below:
Doocy: When you said that chemical weapon use by Russia would trigger a response in kind\nBiden: It will trigger a significant response\nDoocy: What does that mean?\nBiden: I\u2019m not going to tell you. Why would I tell you?pic.twitter.com/jf6Mr1bLmT— Acyn (@Acyn) 1648495682
Twitter was so here for Biden's smackdown.
I could watch President Biden dunk on Peter Doocy all day.— Scott Dworkin (@Scott Dworkin) 1648496094
Peter Doocy look when President Biden said \u201cI\u2019m not going to tell YOU!, I\u2019m not going to tell Putin what I\u2019m going to do if Putin uses chemical weapons!\u201d Priceless \n\nBRAVO PRESIDENT BIDEN!— CopterDoctor\ud83d\ude81\ud83e\ude7a \ud83d\udeabLists (@CopterDoctor\ud83d\ude81\ud83e\ude7a \ud83d\udeabLists) 1648496012
Peter Doocy asks President Biden what his response to Putin using nuclear weapons would be? Do you think Peter was asking on behalf of Putin or is he really that dumb.— MDUB\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udf40 (@MDUB\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udf40) 1648564860
Joe Biden just rendered Peter Doocy absolutely speechless. \n\nIt was a glorious moment.— @amys_bus_ticket \ud83c\udf0a#PaperBallots (@@amys_bus_ticket \ud83c\udf0a#PaperBallots) 1648495263
.@glennkirschner2 .@CheriJacobus .@B52Malmet .@JudyPete Peter Doocy asks more mindless questions in purposely misinterpreting everything President Biden has said. But, what else can you expect from someone working for a pro-Putin network! @FoxNewspic.twitter.com/kDEVZU2QBc— ChattJazz \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \u262e\ufe0f \ud83c\udf3b (@ChattJazz \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \u262e\ufe0f \ud83c\udf3b) 1648550454
Biden and Doocy have a famously tense relationship. In January, Biden called the Fox reporter “a stupid son of a b***h” on live television for asking how rising inflation in the U.S. would impact the midterm election results. Though they've managed to maintain a relatively professional since then.
Doocy said President Biden called him within an hour of the January exchange:
“He said, "It’s nothing personal, pal.’”
Many agree that the relationship between Biden and Doocy is not one of hate or disrespect. Unlike the relationship between the press and the Trump administration, Biden remains respectful and eager to provide a platform for reporters.
Very true, I think that's a good point to make: Biden and Doocy have a mutual level of respect that the press and Trump never had. Of course, the question of "who started the disrespect?" in that relationship will probably always be a "chicken and the egg" type scenario.— Rosie Ciletti (@Rosie Ciletti) 1643114131
You have to know more about to the relationship between the president and Peter Doocy, sir. Biden respects him for giving him the hard questions, and the other day, he made sure Peter got to ask one even after they'd said the event was over. He likes him. It's all in good fun.https://twitter.com/CarmineSabia/status/1354161479809957890\u00a0\u2026— \ud83c\udf3bBlossoms Cover Thorns\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@\ud83c\udf3bBlossoms Cover Thorns\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1611727026
Some people even find their relationship to be endearing.
I know Biden is cheeky w/Doocy, and he is a major irritant, but I get the feeling Biden likes him...maybe even feels a kinship with his underdog vibe.\nIt reminds me of relationships I've had w/irritating students from 30 years of teaching. You miss high-maintenance goofballs.— Julie (@Julie) 1630016088
Though tumultuous at times, Biden and Doocy's relationship is productive, and they each allow one another the space to do their respective jobs.
@badgalriri/Instagram