US President Joe Biden has resumed the tradition of holding the annual dinner for White House correspondents and talking to them, mocking his waning popularity in the polls, criticizing his predecessor Donald Trump for not attending this annual dinner during his tenure, and accepting the irony of the evening’s host, comedian Trevor Noah, as he mocked. From Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Biden is the first president to speak to reporters at this event since 2016, in which the president is subjected to friendly mockery in front of an audience of journalists, following a six-year hiatus since the era of former President Donald Trump. President Donald Trump has boycotted this dinner since taking office in 2016, and then it was also banned for two years due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic. “I am very excited to be here tonight with the only American group that is less popular than mine,” Biden said in his opening speech.
“Trevor, the good news is that you can now criticize the president of the United States,” Biden said while introducing the comedian. Other than what happens in Moscow, you will not go to prison.” Noah opened his speech by saying that he was honored to commemorate “the most distinguished event in the country.” And he addressed Biden by saying that the journalists “have been tough on you, which I don’t understand.” “Since I took office, things started to get better, you know, gas prices, rents and food went up. everything”.
Biden acknowledged that the past years have been difficult. “We had a terrible scourge, followed by two years of Covid,” he said sarcastically. Then his words took a more serious turn, praising the journalists covering the war in Ukraine and warning of “a poison passing through our democracy…as misinformation grows exponentially.” “You, the free press, are of greater importance than they were in the last century,” he added. Also, during the dinner, I paid tribute to the sacrifices of journalists in war zones.
The tradition of holding this dinner dates back to 1924 and has been attended by all US presidents since 1980, with the exception of Donald Trump. The dinner was held at the Hilton Hotel in Washington and was attended by 2,600 people. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine was mandatory to attend the dinner, but many questioned the wisdom of the 79-year-old Biden to attend. Vice President Kamala Harris tested positive for the virus last week, and White House Infectious Diseases Adviser Anthony Fauci did not attend the evening. Biden did not eat dinner as a precaution, but he did not wear a mask.
(agencies)
