During the odd moment when a president addresses an audience to make voluntary humor, Joe Biden took advantage of the moments of playfulness to deal with the Republicans – headed by Donald Trump – and Fox News, but he didn’t forget about the reporters in captivity and paid tribute to journalism at a dinner that is, after all, also an award ceremony for its professionals.
First there was Donald Trump’s tumultuous presidency, which saw him boycott the event. The pandemic followed. Finally, the traditional White House Correspondents Association dinner was once again attended by the political elite, as well as the presence of many other guests, to the point that the journalist from the Washington message note that among 2,600 people “there were even some correspondents”, although “they were much smaller in number than the directors, the directors’ advertising friends, the directors’ friends’ companions, and other people unrelated to Washington or the career correspondent “.
As is the tradition of the annual dinner held since 1921, the President and First Lady attended. And for a few years now, the head of state and a guest comedian have been competing for the best moments of humor. Joe Biden made dinner history last year, though he only went on to speak at one event due to the pandemic, still under restrictions.
Last year, the Democrat had made fun of his low popularity, but mostly with Republicans and Fox News. This time, the Democrat returned to the charge after trading the low approval rating for his age. ‘Call me old, I call it experienced. You say I’m old, I say I’m wise. They say I’m past the age, Don Lemon would say he’s a man at his best.’ Lemon was eventually fired from CNN after saying 51-year-old Republican nominee Nikki Haley “didn’t look her best”.
Still on the subject of concern to American voters as Biden will be 82 years old when he comes to the polls, he threw batteries at Fox owner Rupert Murdoch, aged 92. “You might think I don’t like Rupert Murdoch. That’s not true. How can I not like a man who makes me look like Harry Styles?” he said, comparing himself to a 29-year-old singer. The Australian tycoon’s channel was a source of inspiration: “It’s great that the cable news networks are here tonight. MSNBC, owned by NBC Universal. Fox News, owned by Dominion Voting Systems.”
Fox has entered into a compensation settlement with electronic voting technology company Dominion following legal proceedings alleging damages caused by false claims of voter fraud in 2020. “Last year your favorite Fox journalists were able to attend because they were fully vaccinated and incentivized. This year , with the $787 million deal, they’re here because they can’t say no to a free meal And further: “And hell, I’d call Fox fair, honest and true, but then I could be sued for libel. “
Biden even took a jab at the now-fired broadcast star, Tucker Carlson, when he repeated his motto “the job is not done” for the upcoming campaign. “I mean, it’s over for Tucker Carlson.”
Praising his presidency, he said the administration has created 12 million jobs “and that’s just Trump’s lawyers”, the man who is said (although he denies it) has decided to run for president presidency after feeling humiliated at the 2011 correspondents’ dinner, in front of the jokes of Barack Obama and comedian Seth Meyers.
In a more serious part of the speech, the president clearly outlined what separates him from his predecessor and potential opponent, who called the media “the enemy of the people” and their work “fake news” by declaring: “The free press is a pillar, perhaps the pillar of a free society, not its enemy.”
Biden paid tribute to two jailed journalists: Austin Tice, who spent 11 years imprisoned in Syria, and Evan Gershkovich, of the Wall Street Journal, arrested in Russia in March on charges of espionage. “I’m working hard to get them home,” he said, then pointed to basketball player Brittney Griner, who was released by Russian authorities in a prisoner exchange.
Source: DN
