Rupert Murdoch apologizes for suggesting Ben Carson would be a ‘real black president’

Rupert Murdoch has apologized for his suggestion that retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, the lone African-American in the 2016 race for the White House, would be a “real black” president — and that President Obama, the country’s first African-American commander in chief, is somehow not one.

“Apologies!” Murdoch wrote on Twitter. “No offence [sic] meant. Personally find both men charming.”

The apology came a day after the News Corp. chairman took to Twitter to promote Carson’s appearance on Fox News’ “Kelly File.”

The 84-year-old Australian-born billionaire then tweeted praise for Carson while taking a swipe at Obama’s handling of America’s race relations.

Murdoch directed his followers to a New York magazine article — “The Paradox of the First Black President” — that questions whether Obama has done enough for the African-American community in his two terms in office.

But it was the phrase “real black” that drew immediate outrage and ignited a firestorm on Twitter.

It’s not the first time Murdoch’s itchy Twitter finger has got him into trouble.

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Murdoch attends the first day of the annual Allen and Co. media conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, in July. (Photo: Mike Blake/Reuters)

In January, the media mogul suggested Muslims “must be held responsible” for the deadly attack on the offices of satirical French newspaper Charlie Hebdo, in Paris.

“Maybe most Moslems peaceful,” Murdoch wrote on Twitter after the attack by Islamic militant gunmen, “but until they recognize and destroy their growing jihadist cancer they must be held responsible.”

Comedian Aziz Ansari, whose parents are Muslim, fired off a series of blistering responses.

And following the 2014 disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370, Murdoch felt the need to offer his own theories on the plane’s whereabouts.

He even linked its disappearance to Muslim extremists.

“I know Rupert Murdoch,” Carson told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Thursday. “He’s not a racist — he’s just expressing his opinion.”