U.S. President Joe Biden faced a challenging backdrop at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday night as protests erupted outside the Washington Hilton. Demonstrators holding banners and chanting about journalist deaths in Gaza gathered to voice their opposition to Biden’s support for Israel’s war against Hamas.
As Biden arrived at the event through a back entrance to avoid the large protests at the front of the hotel, smaller groups of protesters called for a ceasefire. Inside the century-old event, known as Washington’s “nerd prom,” journalists, politicians, and celebrities mingled in a massive banquet hall. The evening typically includes a closing speech by the president filled with friendly jabs at reporters and guests.
This year, the event was hosted by Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost. Grassroots movement CODEPINK marched to the venue from a nearby park, criticizing the U.S. media for perpetuating anti-Palestinian narratives and ignoring Israeli war crimes.
The growing movement against the war in Gaza has put pressure on Biden, with protests disrupting a recent fundraiser in New York. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and caused a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The White House Correspondents’ Association, founded in 1914, hosts the annual dinner to celebrate journalists covering the presidency and raise money for scholarships.
As tensions continue to rise over the conflict in the Middle East, Biden’s roast at the dinner took place against a backdrop of unrest and calls for peace. The event highlighted the challenges facing the administration as it navigates both domestic and international issues in an election year.