President Joe Biden delivered a humorous and pointed speech at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, taking jabs at his predecessor, Donald Trump, and poking fun at his own age. The event, attended by nearly 3,000 journalists, celebrities, and politicians, saw Biden jokingly refer to Trump as “Sleepy Don” and quip about their age difference.
Biden’s speech highlighted the contrast between his reelection campaign, which has been ramping up since his State of the Union address, and Trump’s legal troubles related to an alleged hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. Comedian Colin Jost of “Saturday Night Live” also took aim at Trump’s legal woes, adding humor to the evening.
However, outside the venue, a sizable group of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered, underscoring the criticism Biden faces over his handling of the war in Gaza. The protesters accused attendees of cosigning the president’s actions in Gaza and called for solidarity with journalists killed in the conflict.
Despite the light-hearted tone of the event, the stakes were high for Biden, whose approval ratings have been flagging. The president’s speech touched on press freedom and the dangers of a second Trump presidency, but notably did not mention the war in Gaza.
Behind the scenes, Biden’s team, led by Hollywood advisor Jeffrey Katzenberg, worked to fine-tune the president’s comedy set for the evening. The event highlighted the political ramifications of the Correspondents’ Dinner, where humor and seriousness often intersect in a high-profile setting.