WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden took advantage of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner speech on Saturday to address the former president Donald Trumpto take a shot at the presumptive GOP nominee while emphasizing the interests of the election.
Biden made jokes at the expense of his political opponent, saying that he was “a big man going up against a six-year-old.”
The president went on to say that age is the only thing he and Trump have in common, and said, “My vice president really supports me,” referring to former Vice President Mike Pence. refusal He said he would support his former candidate in 2024.
But Biden’s speech took a serious turn when he discussed the stakes in November’s presidential election, echoing themes from his campaign speeches while highlighting what he called Trump’s “assault on our democracy.”
The president called on the media to “rise to the seriousness of the moment”.
“Skip the horse race numbers and the gotcha moments and the distractions and the sensationalist shows in our politics and focus on what’s actually at stake,” Biden said. “I think you know what’s at stake in your heart.”
Biden also highlighted the detention of The Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been in prison in Russia for over a year on espionage charges, denied by himself and his employer. His case was classified as illegal detention by the United States
The president called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to immediately release Gershkovich, adding that the White House is also doing its best to repatriate independent journalist Austin Tice and businessman Paul Whelan.
Gershkovich’s parents and Tice’s mother were among about 2,600 guests at the dinner, according to estimates provided by NBC News political reporter Steve Kornacki in a video he played at the event.
“As a Biden, I promise you: we will not give up until we bring them home,” Biden said. “All of them.”
Biden also emphasized the illegal detention of Americans abroad Gershkovich, at last year’s dinner. In last year’s speech, the President stressed that “journalism is not a crime” and noted that the free press is a “pillar” of a “free society”.
Celebrities attending Saturday’s event included Scarlett Johansson, who is married to Jost; Rachel Brosnahan and Quavo. Senior politicians and administration officials, including Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D.N.Y. and Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pen., also attended.
First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff also attended the event held at the Washington Hilton.
NBC News Chief White House Correspondent Kelly O’Donnell serves as the 2023-24 President of the White House Correspondents’ Association and will chair the dinner.
The cast of Saturday Night Live Colin Jost was the host of the dinner. He co-hosts a segment on the NBC show “Weekend Update.”
Like Biden, Jost cracked a few jokes about former presidents, including Trump’s criminal convictions, and began by saying, “How refreshing it is to see the president of the United States at an event that doesn’t start with a bailiff.” All growth.'”
Jost also took aim at Biden at times, comparing the economy to a president climbing the steps of Air Force One: “It feels like stumbling, but somehow there’s upward momentum.” The comedian also told the president that his now-deceased grandfather voted for Biden in the last election because he thought he was a “decent man.”
As the dinner, a 100-year-old tradition, took place in the ballroom, hundreds of protesters rallied outside the venue to call for a ceasefire and criticize Biden’s response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
“Shame on you!” they shouted slogans. Attendees walked past them to enter the hotel. They also lashed out at the media and a large sign reading “Stop media involvement in genocide”.
“Journalists die in Gaza every time the media tells a lie,” the crowd echoed the leader’s roars.
Later, the protesters chanted “Brick by brick, wall by wall, the Western media will fall” and called for the collapse of the Western media.
U.S. Secret Service Communications Chief Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that “attendees can expect increased security and scrutiny at the dinner,” adding that “intermediate” roads will be closed near the venue.
“In reference to the public demonstration, we are working closely with the Metropolitan Washington Police Department to protect people’s right to assemble, but we will have zero tolerance for unlawful behavior,” Guglielmi said.
After the dinner, two protesters holding signs reading “Stop Israel’s Genocide” entered the hotel’s red carpet area as guests were leaving. The participants were tricked and removed by security personnel.
The president has had to deal with protesters, sometimes counter-protesters, demonstrating outside of official events interferes his speeches. In his answerBiden’s team worked to make the president’s events smaller and held their exact locations longer than usual, hoping to reduce potential disruptions.
Earlier this month Palestinian journalists wrote openly letter Pointing to the Biden administration’s support for Israel, he urged others to boycott the White House Correspondents’ Dinner “in solidarity with us, your fellow journalists, and the millions of Palestinians who are starving in Gaza right now.”