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US President Biden in the White House: "What a great plus, more inflation"
PHOTO: MICHAEL REYNOLDS/POOL/EPA
US President Joe Biden likes to present himself as the epitome of decency, dignity and respect - and in this respect as the greatest possible contrast to his predecessor Donald Trump.
On Monday evening (local time), however, Biden responded to a journalist's question a little less virtuously.
At the end of a press conference, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked the President whether the country's rising inflation could hurt his Democratic Party in November's midterm elections.
Biden then murmured – audible to everyone since his microphone was still on – and clearly ironically: “What a great plus, more inflation.” Shaking his head and making a slight grimace, Biden added: “What a stupid son of a bitch.”
In English, "son of a bitch" is an insult that can mean anything from "bastard," "shit," or "puke," to the very literal and rather uncommon translation, "son of a bitch."
In any case, the term usually does not appear in the public vocabulary of presidents.
Doocy's question had a serious background: In the US, the inflation rate has recently risen dramatically - about two weeks ago to the highest level in 40 years.
This is also a problem for Biden and his Democrats in view of the congressional election in November.
A simple rule of thumb applies: the higher the prices, the more dissatisfied the voters are - and the more Biden's poll numbers fall.
The government is trying to slow down the rise in inflation with various initiatives.
But they are limited in scope.
Questioner Peter Doocy is a reporter for Fox News, a television network that was once highly pro-Trump.
Doocy is known for regularly confronting the President and his spokeswoman Jen Psaki with uncomfortable questions.
He took Biden's recent comment with humor.
In a chat with his station shortly after the incident, another Fox News co-worker sneered at Doocy that he thought the president was actually right.
Doocy replied with a grin, "Yeah, no one's fact-checked that yet and said it's not true."
aar/dpa