The allusion to the presidential election of 2024 is not frankly subtle: Joe Biden, during a medal ceremony to, among others, singer Bruce Springsteen and actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, joked about his will to make a “double”. The president distinguished on Tuesday at the White House personalities of entertainment and culture, who received either the “National Medal of Arts” or the “National Medal of Humanities”.
Among them the African-American writer Colson Whitehead, whose Joe Biden, visibly in a good mood, noted that he had twice received the prestigious Pulitzer Prize, for “Underground Railroad” and for “The Nickel Boys”. “I would try a double myself,” said the 80-year-old Democrat, to laughter and applause.
Joe Biden says so far he “intends” to run again in 2024, but has not officially launched his campaign. In particular, the president decorated Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the unscrupulous vice-president and then president of the fierce comedy series “Veep”, and the “Boss” Bruce Springsteen, as well as the fashion designer Vera Wang and the “Empress of soul” Gladys Knight. “The music of Bruce Springsteen celebrates our triumphs, heals our wounds, gives us hope. It captures that indomitable spirit that defines America,” the White House said of the “Born in the USA” singer.
Addressing the rock legend, in a wise suit and tie to receive his medal, Joe Biden once again joked about his electoral intentions: “Bruce, there are people who were born to compete, my man”, he launched, in reference to another of his hits, “Born to Run”. The president played on the meaning of the verb “to run”, which means “to run”, but also designates the fact of standing for an election.
When receiving her medal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus had facial expressions irresistibly reminiscent of her character of Selina Meyer, the unscrupulous politician from the series “Veep”, a crazy exploration of the backstage of the American executive. Referring to all the recipients, including author Ann Patchett, Native American scholar and activist Henrietta Mann, or biographer and media man Walter Isaacson, Joe Biden concluded the ceremony by saying: “You are incredible. You make this country better. .”
