President Biden's recent testy exchange with a reporter questioning him about the FBI document and the "Big Guy" moniker is the latest in a series of confrontational interactions with the press. When asked why he was referred to by this term in connection with an alleged bribery scheme, the President dismissed the inquiry as a "dumb question" before staff escorted reporters from the room.
This incident follows a pattern of the President responding sharply to questions he finds unfavorable. The FBI document in question, an FD-1023 form, reportedly details allegations from a confidential source claiming then-Vice President Biden received a $5 million payment from a Burisma Holdings executive. Biden has vehemently denied these accusations.
The President's history with the press includes several notable clashes. In 2021, he criticized CNN's Kaitlan Collins for her questioning regarding Vladimir Putin, later apologizing for his remarks. He also challenged a reporter's assertion about a lack of midterm campaign appearances with him, and reacted strongly to a question about abortion restrictions.
Other instances include dismissing a reporter's question about Democrats who oppose his re-election bid, accusing another reporter of fabricating concerns about a potential recession, and disputing a reporter's interpretation of his comments comparing political adversaries to segregationist figures.
Perhaps most famously, he called Fox News reporter Peter Doocy a "stupid son of a b----" for a question about inflation, an incident for which he later apologized. More recently, he brushed off a question about potential conflicts of interest related to his family's business dealings in China. These interactions contrast with Biden's stated commitment to respectful workplace conduct.
