After a two-year absence, Washington again hosted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the event in which representatives of politics and the press ridicule each other. For the first time since 2016, the American president was also there again: Joe Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump invariably declined invitations to the gala evening.
Biden joked about this in his speech. “This is the first time in six years that a president has attended this event,” he said. “We had that terrible plague, followed by two years of corona.”
Biden also made fun of himself. In view of his low popularity ratings, he told reporters in attendance, “Great to be here tonight with the only group of Americans even less popular than me.”
Praise for war reporters
Biden also targeted Republicans and Democratic dissidents, who caused quite a bit of setback in the first year of Biden’s presidency. “I had already counted on strong opposition when I took office – I only wish it would come from the Republicans.”
The president later took a serious tone. He said America has had difficult years and called the free press more important than ever at a time when disinformation often has free rein. He also praised war reporters.
–
