Fox News runs pathetic defense after Peter Doocy spreads debunked Hunter Biden conspiracy theory

Days after Devon Archer testified that he never saw Joe Biden discuss business with Hunter Biden's associates, Fox's Peter Doocy pestered the president about Archer supposedly claiming Biden was “talking business” on phone calls with his son’s partners

Written by Alicia Sadowski

Research contributions from Jacina Hollins-Borges, Noah Dowe & Ryan Masri

Published

Fox News spent the better part of the last day griping about President Joe Biden after he dismissed a “lousy” right-wing conspiracy theory posited by Fox White House correspondent Peter Doocy. Speaking after an event in Belen, New Mexico, Doocy told President Biden that “one of your son’s former business associates is claiming that you were on speakerphone a lot with them talking business.” The testimony in question from Devon Archer, the former associate of Hunter Biden, directly contradicted Doocy’s accusation.

During Archer's testimony last week to members of the GOP-controlled House Oversight Committee, he failed to provide evidence that then-Vice President Joe Biden had participated in nefarious business calls and dinners with Hunter Biden’s business associates. Archer instead testified they had “casual conversations” about weather and fishing. He also confirmed that Hunter Biden “did not ask him [Joe Biden] — to my knowledge, I never saw him say, do anything for any particular business,” nor was he aware of anything Joe Biden ever did in that direction, adding that his son was merely “projecting this illusion of access."

Archer’s testimony, however, did not stop the network’s hosts and personalities from feigning outrage at the president and commending Doocy’s unfounded interrogation.

  • On Your World with Neil Cavuto, Doocy defended his “first-of-its-kind reaction” from the president to guest anchor Sandra Smith. “He did not want to talk about that,” Doocy explained. “But it does now conflict with the sworn testimony of Devon Archer. Devon Archer went under oath to talk about these speakerphone calls. Some of the Democrats that came out of that room where they were listening in private said that the president was just talking about the weather. But he’s saying that they didn’t talk at all.” [Fox News, Your World with Neil Cavuto, 8/9/23]
  • The Five co-host Dana Perino commented, “I applaud Peter Doocy.” The former White House press secretary for President George W. Bush also criticized the Biden administration, claiming, “At some point, somebody is going to get a chance to actually ask President Biden a question where he’s not surrounded by people saying, ‘That's enough, that’s enough’ after one little question like that.” The show then descended into chaos when Jessica Tarlov noted her co-hosts were spreading false claims about Archer’s testimony.  [Fox News, The Five, 8/9/23, 8/9/23]
  • Doocy again touted the president’s “first-of-its-kind reaction” to his question on Special Report, where Fox anchor Bret Baier commented, “We didn't think your question is lousy. We hope you get more of them.” [Fox News, Special Report with Bret Baier, 8/9/23]
  • Host Laura Ingraham also praised the exchange: “Well, our own Peter Doocy — and I love this moment — did what actual reporters are supposed to do today. He asked President Biden for an explanation.” She then mocked Biden’s criticism of the question, “A lousy question? What is a good question for Joe Biden? What's your favorite color? What astrological sign are you? Now anyone with a White House press badge who doesn’t demand answers on this topic should not show up to work at all tomorrow.” [Fox News, The Ingraham Angle, 8/9/23]
  • Host Jesse Watters ignored Archer’s testimony and questioned how Biden “had dinner with a Burisma executive for an hour and never talked business. Are you believing that?” Fox contributor Charlie Hurt agreed that Biden’s answer was a “complete lie.” [Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, 8/9/23]
  • After noting that “Peter deserves a raise for this, for daring to ask this question,” prime-time host Sean Hannity declared that “Joe Biden is flat-out lying.” Later in the show, Hannity repeated that “Joe Biden lies to our faces” before again singing Doocy’s praises, telling the Fox reporter, “I don’t think your question was lousy at all.” [Fox News, Hannity, 8/9/23, 8/9/23]
  • Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo said President Biden was “snapping” at Doocy. Former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) further linked the Obama administration pressuring Ukraine to fire corrupt prosecutor Viktor Shokin to Hunter Biden being on Burisma's board. In fact, Archer explained while testifying that “the firing of Shokin was bad for Burisma because he was under control.” Also on the show, House Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) discussed Hunter Biden with Bartiromo. [Fox Business, Mornings with Maria, 8/10/23, 8/10/23]
  • Fox News host Brian Kilmeade complained about Biden's reaction to Doocy's question: “How he could say this is a bad question or a lousy question is beyond me.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 8/10/23]
  • Peter Doocy admitted that Archer testified that he never saw Joe Biden talk business with Hunter's associates. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 8/10/23]
  • Fox's Jonathan Turley said Doocy's question goes “to the heart of the matter.” Turley, Perino, and anchor Bill Hemmer did not mention Archer's testimony about never seeing Joe Biden talk business with Hunter's associates. [Fox News, America's Newsroom, 8/10/23]