President Biden made a series of jokes during his speech Saturday evening at the first White House Correspondents’ Dinner since 2019.
“Special thanks to the 42 percent of you that actually applauded,” Biden said as he walked on stage.
“I’m really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans with a lower approval rating than I have,’ he added.
“This is the first time the president attended this dinner in six years. It’s understandable, we had a horrible plague — followed by two years of COVID,” Biden said in reference to former President Trump.
“Just imagine if my predecessor came to this dinner this year. Now that would have been a real coup if that occurred,” he joked.
Attendees at the event were required to provide proof of vaccination and a same-day negative COVID-19 rapid test.
After joking about his age and approval rating, Biden then took a few shots at Republicans, including Trump.
President Trump didn’t attend the event during his presidency and it was canceled for the last two years because of COVID-19.
“It’s understandable,” Biden said. “We had a horrible plague followed by two years of COVID”.
“I’m not really here to roast the GOP, that’s not really my style. Besides, there’s nothing I can say about the GOP that Kevin McCarthy hasn’t already put on tape,” Biden continued, referring to audio leaked of Kevin McCarthy saying he planned to ask Trump to resign after Jan. 6.
“At the same time, people say the Republican Party’s too extreme, too divisive, too controlled by one person. They say this is not your father’s Republican Party,” he said.
“Ronald Reagan said, ‘Mr. Gorbachev tear this wall down’. Today’s Republicans say ‘tear down Mickey Mouse’s house,’ and pretty soon they’ll be storming Cinderella’s castle, you can be sure of it,” Biden added.
“But Republicans seem to support one fella, some guy named Brandon,” the president said. “He’s having a really good year, and I’m happy for him”.
Biden introduced comedian Trevor Noah, saying that, unlike in Moscow, he could mock the president without going to jail.
“You guys here spent the last two years telling everyone the importance of wearing masks and avoiding large, indoor gatherings. And then the second someone offers you a free dinner you all turn into Joe Rogan,” Noah said to the crowd.
He also joked about inflation, telling Biden “I think ever since you’ve come into office things are really looking up — gas is up, rent is up, food is up. Everything”.
“I stood here tonight and made fun of the President of the United States and I’m going to be fine,” Noah said. “I am going to be fine right?”