At the celebrated White House Correspondents’ Dinner, President Joe Biden stepped into the spotlight not only to share a laugh but also to underscore the stark contrasts between himself and former President Donald Trump, as he humorously likened his political rival to a “six-year-old.”
As attendees filled the Washington Hilton’s grand ballroom, Biden addressed the nearly 3,000 journalists, celebrities, and political figures, taking strategic jabs at Trump. He quipped about his own age, stating, “I’m a grown man running against a six-year-old.”
In a pointed reference to the strained relationship between Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence, Biden remarked, “My vice president actually endorses me.”
“Move past the horse race numbers and the ‘gotcha’ moments and the distractions and the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensationalize our politics, and focus on what’s actually at stake,” the president urged, calling for the media to engage with the gravity of the current political moment and the attack to American democracy.
The dinner also served as a platform for Biden to address human rights, particularly the wrongful detention of journalists abroad. He called out Russian President Vladimir Putin to release The Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to bringing detained Americans home, asserting, “I give you my word as a Biden: We’re not going to give up until we get them home.”
NBC News Senior White House Correspondent Kelly O’Donnell presided over the event, which featured “Saturday Night Live” cast member Colin Jost as the entertainer. Like Biden, Jost cracked several jokes at the former president’s expense, including Trump’s criminal trial, starting his remarks by saying “how refreshing it is to see a president of the United States at an event that doesn’t begin with a bailiff saying, ‘All rise.'”
Outside the glittering event, a different scene unfolded as hundreds of protesters mobilized outside the venue to call for a cease-fire and criticize Biden’s response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Relevant articles:
– Biden swipes at Trump at White House correspondents’ dinner, NBC News, 04/28/2024
– Biden cracks jokes about his old age, makes fun of Trump at White House Correspondents Dinner, New York Post, Sun, 28 Apr 2024 03:56:01 GMT
– ‘Running against a 6-year-old’: Biden takes on Trump at White House Correspondents’ Dinner, MSNBC, Sun, 28 Apr 2024 03:02:00 GMT
– Colin Jost Roasts Donald Trump On Trial And Riffs On Joe Biden’s Age During WHCA Dinner Gig, Deadline, Sun, 28 Apr 2024 03:08:00 GMT