Late night television host Stephen Colbert suggested that a Fox News reporter should be slapped over his questions to President Joe Biden during his latest media briefing.
Colbert made the comments during the opening monologue on this show Tuesday.
“Yesterday, President Biden held a press conference, and he was asked a ridiculous question by a ridiculous man, Fox News reporter and that one kid in high school who wears a suit to gym class, Peter Doocy,” said Colbert before running video of the exchange between Doocy and Biden.
“You said a chemical weapon used by Russia would trigger a response in kind,” said Doocy in the clip.
“It will trigger a significant response,” Biden replied.
“What does that mean?” asked Doocy.
“I’m not gonna tell you. Why would I tell you? You gotta be silly!” Biden responded.
“Remember how on last night’s who I said that slapping is never ever the answer?” Colbert continued. “I’d like to file a one time exemption on behalf of the president of the United States.”
Colbert’s audience applauded the notion that Doocy deserved to be slapped. He went on to joke that Doocy might ask Biden what the nuclear launch codes were, and he received tepid laughter from the audience.
The liberal late night host was referring to the controversial slap movie star Will Smith gave to comedian Chris Rock during the Oscars awards ceremony.
The clip was a part of a longer exchange where Doocy challenged Biden on several recent gaffes that have put his competency into question. Among those was the claim that the U.S. would use chemical weapons in Ukraine if Russia used them first. The White House clarified that they would not use chemical weapons, but said a significant response would be made if Russia did first use chemical weapons in Ukraine.
Doocy has faced many rhetorical slings and arrows from the left because of his combative and challenging exchanges with Biden and White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki over the policies of the administration.