Biden apologizes for being 'such a wiseguy' after snapping at CNN reporter

President Biden's press conference in Geneva on Wednesday wrapped up on a tense note — and he's now offering an apology for it.

As Biden was leaving his Wednesday press conference in Geneva following a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, CNN's Kaitlan Collins asked why he's "so confident" that Putin will change his behavior. The president appeared agitated by the question as he turned around and pushed back against it.

"I'm not confident he'll change his behavior," Biden said. "What the hell — what do you do all the time? When did I say I was confident?"

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The CNN reporter followed up by asking how Biden's meeting with Putin could be characterized as constructive, noting that Putin hasn't changed his behavior in the past, to which Biden shot back, "If you don't understand that, you're in the wrong business."

Shortly after the exchange, Biden again spoke with reporters and apologized for snapping at Collins, while still criticizing reporters for being too "negative."

"I owe my last questioner an apology," he said. "I shouldn't have been such a wiseguy in the last answer I gave."

On CNN, Collins called this apology by Biden "unnecessary," saying "he did not have to apologize" and that while "I do appreciate that he did," she was "just doing my job."

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.