Jen Psaki Is In Hot Water Over Peter Doocy Quip
Jen Psaki and Peter Doocy just can't seem to get along. Back in March of 2022, the White House Press Secretary and the Fox News reporter got into it at a briefing about rising costs at the gas pump. In case you missed it, Doocy seemingly interrupted Psaki as she was trying to answer his question on the topic, before she cut in and proclaimed, "Let — let me — let me give you the facts here. And I know that can be inconvenient, but I think they are important in this moment" (via Fox News).
This is only one example of the tension that is par for the course in interactions between Psaki and Doocy. But as the official mouthpiece of President Joe Biden told Mediaite in August of last year, the White House is respectful of the fact that reporters like Doocy "are doing their jobs." She added the administration also knows "sometimes they're questions that are tough." While maintaining that overall, the relationship she has with Doocy and other reporters is "professional," Psaki also revealed, "There's a performative component from the TV side of the briefing room."
Well, perhaps that explains her recent comment about the Fox reporter? Or, maybe not.
Jen Psaki blasts Fox News
During a conversation on the podcast "Pod Save America," host Dan Pfeiffer asked Jen Psaki a question that referenced President Joe Biden's hot mic moment from January when he called Peter Doocy "a stupid son of a b***h." "Is he a stupid son of a b***h, or does he just play [one] on TV?" Pfeiffer asked the Press Secretary (via Politico).
Could she win given the question? You be the judge, as Psaki answered that the reporter "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***h" (via The Hill).
Well, Psaki's take on Fox News didn't sit well with many at the network, with Doocy's colleague, John Roberts, tweeting in response, "Note to @PressSec . @pdoocy makes the decisions on what topics he wants to quiz you on, and develops the questions himself." He added if this modus operandi made all of them "'stupid s.o.b.s,' so be it."
According to Politico, a Fox spokesperson further confirmed that Doocy's questions are his own.
Jen Psaki attempts to set the record straight
After the latest conflict between Jen Psaki and Peter Doocy cast the Press Secretary in a bad light in the view of many, she took to Twitter to defend herself.
"Full video shows I also told a story about Peter's grace last night and made very clear I was not being critical of him or any reporter at Fox, and instead was critical of the slant of some Fox topics," she noted in the post. She went on to assert that both of them are doing their jobs, adding, "We debate. We disagree. I respect that."
Psaki had been referring to the story she shared on the "Pod Save America" podcast in which she complimented Doocy for how he reacted to President Joe Biden's embarrassing hot mic moment.
The short of it is that on Sean Hannity's show that same night, the reporter noted that Biden reached out to apologize and that he knew the commander in chief was also just doing his job. "So I will say, that was a moment of grace — you don't have to like everything Peter Doocy says or does, but that was certainly a moment of grace by Peter Doocy," Psaki related on the podcast episode in which she also insulted Doocy and Fox (via Daily Mail).
Twitter is not happy about Jen Psaki's comments
Despite Jen Psaki tweeting out what she perceived as the full story about what was said on the "Pod Save America" podcast, many Twitter users were seeing red over her comments about Fox News and Peter Doocy. Florida Republican congressional candidate Laverne Spicer commented in part, "Jen Psaki hit rock bottom with her vulgar attack on Peter Doocy."
Radio host Todd Starnes called for the Press Secretary's removal from her position as the White House's media liaison. And weatherperson Janice Dean pointed out a possible double standard being perpetrated by Psaki, tweeting, "And if a man said something like this to a female reporter it would be harassment."
Of course, Psaki also has her supporters, with many Twitter users blasting Doocy and claiming her characterization of him and Fox News is fitting.
It's important to report that rumors are still running rampant that Psaki is considering a career change and plans to leave Biden's administration to work for MSNBC, a known rival network of Fox.