President Biden Roasts Trump and Reflects on Democracy at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
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At the White House Correspondents’ Dinner held at the Washington Hilton Hotel, President Joe Biden took the opportunity to deliver sharp barbs at former President Donald Trump, weaving humor and serious commentary throughout his address. The event, a glamorous affair meant to celebrate the free press, provided a night off from the typical adversarial dynamics between journalists and government officials.
TMZ reported that President Biden humorously addressed the 2024 presidential race, noting the age difference between himself and Trump with a quip: “I’m a grown man running against a 6-year-old.” He went on to reference Trump’s recent legal challenges, particularly those involving payments to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. Biden joked about the situation saying, “I’ve had a great stretch since the State of the Union. Donald has had a tough few days lately—you might call it stormy weather.”
Biden didn’t stop there; he also highlighted the lack of endorsement from Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, contrasting it with the support he receives from his own vice president, stating proudly, “My vice president actually endorses me.”
The President also targeted Trump’s recent speech at Gettysburg, where Trump had given a disjointed remembrance of the Civil War battle. Biden quipped, “Trump’s speech was so embarrassing that the statue of Robert E Lee surrendered again.” He continued his comedic assault by mocking the $60 Bibles sold by Trump’s campaign, saying, “Trump got so desperate he started reading those Bibles he’s selling, then he got to the first commandment, ‘You should have no other gods before me.’ That’s when he put it down and said— ‘This book’s not for me.’”
As per the New York Post, Amidst the humor, Biden dedicated a significant portion of his speech to more sober reflections on the importance of democracy and the role of the free press within it. He emphasized, “The stakes couldn’t be higher. Every single one of us has a role to play, a serious role to play, in making sure democracy endures. American democracy. In an age of disinformation, credible information people can trust is more important than ever. That makes you, and I mean it from the bottom of my heart, that makes you more important than ever.”
Following the President’s ten-minute address, Colin Jost, co-host of Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, took the stage. Jost humorously speculated about former President Barack Obama’s influence over the Biden administration and poked fun at Biden’s speaking style. He noted, “I was excited to be up here on stage with President Biden tonight, mostly to see if I could figure out where Obama was pulling the strings from.” Jost also made light of Biden’s stamina compared to Trump’s recent courtroom appearances, remarking, “…Just wanted to point out, it’s 10 p.m. and Sleepy Joe is still awake, while Donald Trump has spent the last week falling asleep in court every morning.”
The evening’s mix of satire and serious discourse highlighted the unique role of humor in addressing and reflecting on political realities, serving both as entertainment and as a poignant reminder of the vital functions of a free press in a democratic society.
