At the traditional dinner with the press in Washington, Joe Biden had to take a beating. The US President, for his part, countered with taunts.
US President Joe Biden had to endure jokes about his age with the press at the traditional gala dinner on Saturday. “Daily Show” correspondent and keynote speaker for the evening, Roy Wood Jr., joked about Biden’s repeated candidacy: In France, people “would riot because they don’t want to work until 64. Meanwhile in America we have an 80-year-old man who who asks us to be allowed to work for four more years”.
Biden’s motto “Let’s get the job done” is not a campaign slogan, but a request, Wood emphasized at the event in a hotel in Washington (USA). Even Biden himself had to laugh at the comedian’s jokes.
In terms of his age, the President told the approximately 2,600 guests that he liked the First Amendment, which enshrines freedom of the press, not only because James Madison, who wrote the clause in the 18th century, was a good friend of his.
“Look Like Harry Styles”
Biden also taunted 92-year-old media mogul and owner of conservative Fox News television network Rupert Murdoch. “You might think I don’t like Rupert Murdoch, but I don’t,” Biden said. “How could I not like someone who makes me look like Harry Styles?” he joked of the 29-year-old British pop star.
Press the pillar of a free society
The press gala is traditionally an occasion to make fun of the US President. But this year’s event, which was completely sold out with 2,600 guests, was also a serious affair, and defending freedom of the press was an important topic. A free press is the pillar of a free society, not its enemy, said Biden, referring to his predecessor Donald Trump, who had repeatedly described journalists as “enemies of the people”.
Biden had previously met the family of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was jailed in Russia on espionage charges. “We are working every day to secure his release,” Biden said. “We’re looking for ways (…) to bring him home, we remain confident.”
Among the guests of honor at the gala dinner was US basketball player Brittney Griner, who was released in a prisoner exchange last year after serving ten months in Russia.
