US President Joe Biden was caught insulting a news reporter asking about inflation when he did not realise his microphone was still live.
President Biden had been hosting a meeting at the East Room of the White House which had come to a close.
As the journalists were leaving, several yelled questions at the 79-year-old, including Fox News reporter Peter Doocy who asked about inflation and if it was a "political liability".
Not realising his mic was still on, the president replied: "That's a great asset, more inflation. What a stupid son of a b***h.”
Mr Doocy told Sean Hannity on Fox News he had not heard the insult hurled in his direction but within an hour the apologetic president called the reporter personally, saying: "It’s nothing personal, pal."
He added: “My reaction was delayed because as you can see the Biden staff were ushering us out. They were telling us thank you, time to go.
"It wasn't until we went to the basement and then outside and then back to the press room that somebody said ‘Hey, did you hear what the president said about you? He called you a stupid sob'.
“And I said I did not hear that and I opened up my phone and...he did.
“After years of clips of the President and I kind of mixing it up on the campaign trail and during the transition here at The White House, within about an hour of that exchange, he called my cell phone and he just said ‘It is nothing personal, pal.’
“We went back and forth and we were talking about moving forward and I made sure to tell him that I'm always going to try to ask something different than what everybody else is asking and he said, ‘You've got to.’
“That is the quote from the President, so I will keep doing it.”
Joe Biden had earlier spoken about talking to European leaders about the Ukraine crisis.
When President Biden took office a year ago he pledged to take a hard line on any disrespect among members of his administration.
He said during a virtual swearing-in ceremony: “If you're ever working with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot ... no ifs, ands or buts.
"Everybody is entitled to be treated with decency and dignity.”
