The annual White House correspondents’ dinner took a dramatic turn this year as protesters gathered outside the event to condemn President Joe Biden’s handling of the Hamas-Israel war and the Western media’s coverage of it. The glitzy gala, known for its lighthearted roasts and political jabs, was overshadowed by the growing public discord over the ongoing conflict.
Hundreds of demonstrators, draped in traditional Palestinian keffiyeh cloths, shouted “Shame on you!” at guests entering the Washington Hilton, where the dinner was being held. Chants accusing US journalists of under-covering the war and misrepresenting it filled the air as protesters ran after attendees, some even kneeling in their underwear while blindfolded.
The protest organizers aimed to draw attention to the high number of casualties in Gaza since the conflict began in October. More than 34,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to health officials, with nearly 100 journalists losing their lives while covering the war. Press vests covered in red paint were displayed on the footpath outside the event to symbolize the journalists killed in the line of duty.
The escalating tensions between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators mirrored the deep divide over the conflict. While some rallied for a free Palestine, others backed Israel’s offensive and raised concerns about antisemitism. The clash of ideologies and the toll of the war on civilians and journalists alike underscored the somber backdrop against which the annual dinner unfolded.