On Saturday night, April 27, US President Biden attended the annual White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, where he delivered a speech that lasted about ten minutes.
The “White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner” is a major event of the year, attracting nearly 3,000 journalists, social elites, and politicians. Unlike previous years, this year’s dinner took place against the backdrop of the upcoming US presidential election and tensions surrounding the situation in Ukraine.
Nevertheless, President Biden maintained his sense of humor. The President also expressed gratitude for the warm welcome to his presence at the dinner.
During his speech, Biden joked about the 2024 presidential election to WHCA President Kelly O’Donnell, saying, “Kelly, to be honest, you’re too young to be president.”
His remark elicited laughter from the audience.
President Biden is currently focused on preparing for his re-election campaign in the November presidential election. In his speech on Saturday, the President attempted to dispel doubts about his suitability for office due to his age.
“Age is the only thing my opponent and I (referring to Trump) have in common, and my Vice President is actually endorsing me,” Biden said.
“I feel good. I really feel good. I’m campaigning across the country: in Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, and I’ve been doing well in the Thirteen Colonies.”
The Thirteen Colonies, also known as the Thirteen States, were a group of British colonies established along the Atlantic coast of North America from 1607 (Virginia) to 1733 (Georgia). These colonies eventually became part of the United States at the time of independence.
Biden also took the opportunity to express heartfelt thanks to the free media for reporting truths rather than lies.
“Some have called you ‘enemies of the people.’ That’s wrong and dangerous. You’re actually risking your lives to do your jobs, that’s the truth,” the President said.
“Reporting everything from natural disasters to pandemics to wars and more. Some of your colleagues have lost their lives, many have been seriously injured. Other reporters have lost their freedom,” Biden said. “In an age of rampant misinformation, trustworthy information that people can rely on is more crucial than ever. I believe from the bottom of my heart that this makes you more important than ever before.”
“So, tonight I want to raise a glass.” The President said. He added that it was for press freedom, to keep the public well-informed, and for a toast to the preservation of freedom and democracy in the United States.
Throughout his speech, the President interspersed quips about his competitor and former President, Trump.
New Tang Dynasty Television journalist Iris Tao attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where she interacted actively and made connections with fellow journalists and officials.
Tao also engaged in conversations and took photos with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Raimondo and Tao were wearing remarkably similar dresses, which both of them acknowledged and appreciated.
The White House Correspondents’ Association was established in 1914, and the first association dinner was held in 1921. It is a longstanding tradition for the US head of state to attend and deliver light-hearted speeches at the event.
According to information from the White House Correspondents’ Association, tickets for the dinner are only sold to member news organizations. The WHCA stated that the annual dinner is a primary source of income, which is used to fund all of its work.