Biden declares science 'back' before hot mic moment

U.S. President Joe Biden declared Thursday that "science is back - back in vogue," as he opened a meeting with the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

In remarks before the discussion got underway, Biden told his council that their job is to "ask how science and technology can expand our possibilities, solve our toughest challenges and make the impossible possible."

WIthout mentioning his predecessor by name, the president said it's essential that scientific integrity is taken seriously again in the White House and is "at the center of what we're about as a nation."

As the press was escorted out of the South Court Auditorium once the remarks were wraped, Biden was caught on a hot mic calling a reporter's question on the Russia Ukraine conflict "stupid."

Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich shouted multiple times, "Why are you waiting on Putin to make the first move, sir?"

Biden was caught on camera responding, "What a stupid question."

The exchange comes as the White House underscored Thursday that any Russian troop movements across Ukraine’s border would constitute an invasion and that Moscow would “pay a heavy price” for such an action.

IMAGE: AP