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Jen Psakiisn’t holding back when it comes to how she feels about Fox News' views of the news.
At an event last week with Dan Pfieffer ofPod Save America, Pfieffer asked the White House press secretary, 43, about PresidentJoe Bidengetting caught in January callingPeter Doocya “stupid son of a b—-” after the Fox News correspondent had asked about inflation.
“He works for a network that provides people with questions that, nothing personal to any individual, including Peter Doocy, but might make anyone sound like a stupid son of a b—-,” she said.
Her remark quickly spread around social media and drew a response from Doocy’s network.
A spokeswoman for Fox News said in a statement shared with PEOPLE: “In his role as White House correspondent, Peter Doocy’s job is to elicit truth from power for the American public. His questions are his own, he is a terrific reporter and we are extremely proud of his work.”
Psaki declined to comment to PEOPLE on the record about the exchange.
This is not the first time the Biden White House’s relationship with Fox News has made headlines. Both the president and some of his officials have criticized what they call the network’s conservative approach to coverage (though Fox News takes pains to try and separate its opinion personalities from its journalists).
Jen Psaki.Kevin Dietsch/Getty
In January, Biden found himself in a bit of hot water afterhis microphone picked upa passing insult directed at Doocy during a White House press event.
As reporters were being escorted from the room in which the event was held, Doocy, 34, yelled out: “Do you think inflation is a political liability in the midterms?” (Biden and Doocy have a history of back-and-forths over the questions he asks.)
Upon hearing Doocy at the event, Biden, who was seemingly unaware that his mic was still on, could be heard saying in a low voice: “That’s a great asset — more inflation. What a stupid son of a b—-.”
Appearingon Sean Hannity’s showafter the exchange, Doocy said that Biden had subsequently reached out to him on his cell phone “within about an hour” to talk through what happened.
Psaki and Doocy themselveshave a habitof pointed yet playful banter in the White House Briefing Room and have said before there are no hard feelings between the two of them.
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“People don’t see this every day, but we fully recognize Peter Doocy as — and many reporters, right? — they are doing their jobs and working on behalf of the media organizations they represent and asking, sometimes, their questions that are tough,” Psaki said in aninterview with Mediaitein August.
She continued then: “But my engagement with him, people don’t always see this, but outside the briefing room, it is entirely professional and entirely, hopefully, responsive.”
source: people.com
