US President Joe Biden showed self-irony and attacked his competitor in the presidential elections, Donald Trump, “a six-year-old child”, at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, an event that provoked a demonstration against Israel’s War in the nearby Gaza Strip, reports AFP, quoted by News.ro.
Numerous high-profile guests, journalists and celebrities, arrived at the Hilton Hotel in the federal capital, while around 100 demonstrators gathered at the entrance.
Some demonstrators shouted slogans like “Shame on you!”.
Inside, however, the War in the Gaza Strip did not take center stage, unlike the ironies about Joe Biden’s age or the occasional falls on the stairs of Air Force One, the presidential aircraft.
The presence of the American leader at this annual gala is part of a long tradition of the event – interrupted during the term of his predecessor Donald Trump – according to which the president listens, with a smile on his face, to a comedian who simply cracks him up in front of an audience in tuxedos and dresses long, and then gives a speech peppered with more or less successful jokes.
This year, the one who laughed at the American president was Colin Jost, a writer and actor in the flagship show of American television, Saturday Night Live, broadcast by NBC.
Colin Jost: “Last time I was in DC I left my cocaine in the White House.. Luckily the president was able to put it to good use for his State of the Union..”
*Biden claps*pic.twitter.com/UkhRwsDKFP
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1784414713440244028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
His wife, actress Scarlett Johansson, was also present at the dinner on Saturday.
“SLEEPING JOE IN FEET”
“I’d like to point out that it’s past 10:00 PM (5:00 AM Romanian time) and sleeping Joe is still up, while Donald Trump has spent the week falling asleep in court every morning,” the comedian said, a hint at the trial in New York of the former head of state in a case of hidden payments to a former porn actress.
It’s true, folks.
I’m honored to be in this fight with @KamalaHarris. pic.twitter.com/DLcCfzudAR
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1784430151209533815?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Between self-irony and media teasing, Joe Biden, aged 81, took the floor to attack his rival, aged 77, explaining that “age is the only thing we have in common”.
BREAKING: Biden attacks Trump at the White House Correspondents Dinner, says, “I’m a grown man running against a six-year-old.” says, “My vice president actually endorses me,” talks about “Stormy Weather.” WATCH pic.twitter.com/nfJ5ipjQsa
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) https://twitter.com/simonateba/status/1784409821577388216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Colin Jost and Joe Biden took a more serious tone when addressing the political climate in the United States.
Donald Trump’s rhetoric constitutes a danger, according to the American president, especially after the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and “the stakes cannot be higher”, in his opinion.
“I’m a grown man…running against a six-year-old.”
President Joe Biden jokes about his age and Donald Trump at the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Watch more: https://t.co/81NH5r3hg2 pic.twitter.com/2bD4ZOo9cl
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) https://twitter.com/MSNBC/status/1784408067842470362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“The 2024 elections are in full swing, and age, yes, is a topic,” declared Joe Biden, after which he launched “I’m an adult running against a six-year-old.”
PRO-PALESTINIAN MANIFESTATION
Far from the laughter of the support that echoed in the hall, a demonstration took place in front of the hotel, where, from a window on the top floor, protesters suspended a Palestinian flag several meters long.
Others gathered down in the street with placards and megaphones.
The gala dinner came as protests against the Gaza War spread across American campuses with hundreds of arrests and riot police deployments.
One of the associations that organized the demonstration in front of the Hilton Hotel, Code Pink, announced that it wanted to “stop” the dinner, as a sign of protest against “the complicity of the Biden Government in the targeting and killing of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli army”, which specified that this action will be “non-violent”.
Here is Biden’s message for the press corps: “I’m sincerely not asking you to take sides, but asking you to rise up to the seriousness of the moment.” pic.twitter.com/9zyShUFbPk
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) https://twitter.com/brianstelter/status/1784410580805173642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
For months, every time the American president travels, demonstrators gather in protest against Israel’s support of those who call him “Joe the Genocide” and who demand an end to hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
Several Palestinian journalists have called on their American colleagues in an open letter to boycott this highly publicized event, which is the culmination of a week of worldly receptions.
“You have a particular responsibility to tell the truth to the powerful and uphold journalistic integrity. it is unacceptable to remain silent, out of fear or for career reasons, when journalists in the Gaza Strip continue to be arrested, tortured and killed for doing their jobs,” wrote about 20 Palestinian journalists.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an association based in New York, at least 97 journalists have been killed since the Gaza War began on October 7 between Israel and Hamas – 92 of them Palestinians.
At least 16 other journalists were injured.
The dinner was organized by the White House Correspondents’ Association.
Joe Biden is having a battle with his food at the White House Correspondents Dinner
pic.twitter.com/gcWozagLxg
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1784399809505300935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
This annual event is the occasion to present prizes and grant scholarships to journalism students.
Last year, 2,600 guests attended the event.
Tags: Sleeping Joes Running SixYearOld
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