President of the United States Joe Biden jokes about criticism received his 15 months in office, and launched criticism of his predecessor, Donald Trump, as well as Republican Party and members of the press, at the White House correspondent’s annual gala held this Saturday night in Washington.

“I’m excited to be here tonight with only group of americans are less famous than me”, Biden said, at an event attended by approximately 2,600 people, including journalists, government members and celebrities.

The White House Press Correspondents Association, the WHCA, has hosted presidents ’annual black-tie dinner since 1924, though it was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the covid-19 pandemic.

In any case, recent years have also not completed the appointment, because Trump did not attend any of these events during his term.contrary to the media.

“Imagine if my predecessor came to dinner this year. Today would be a real coup,” slipped Biden, the first president to receive an invitation in six years.

In his jokes about the rival GOP, he said “I have nothing to say about the GOP that Kevin McCarthy hasn’t recorded yet.”

He also starred in Fox News. “I know there are a lot of questions about whether we should come together here tonight because of COVID. Well, we are here to show the country that we are going to come out of this pandemic. Also, everyone should show that they have completed their vaccination and their booster. ” Said Biden.

“All you have to do is contact your favorite Fox News reporter. They’re all here. Vaccinated and strengthened,” he added.

His comments then became more serious, when recognizing that the last few years have been difficult. “We had a horrible plague followed by two years of covid,” he lamented. Besides, recognized the work of journalists covers Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and warns of “a poison that flows into our democracy … that disinformation is increasing“.

“Your free press is more important than ever in this century,” Biden said. The dinner also paid tribute to the sacrifices made by journalists in war zones.

Biden in good spirits

With the ups and downs of the pandemic, some have questioned the presence of the 79-year-old president, while his Vice President Kamala Harris tested positive for the virus last week. Although Biden skipped meals due to extreme caution, he did not wear a mask.

“Trevor, the good news is you can now annoy the president of the United States,” said the president, who introduced comedian Trevor Noah, who was in charge of stimulating the event. “And unlike (what happens in) Moscow, you’re not going to go to jail,” he told her, in a comic key.

Noah opened his speech by saying he was honored to host “the nation’s most famous event.” However, it’s not too acidic for that: “I’m a little confused as to why I am, but then they told me you can get your best popularity ratings when there’s a biracial African male next to you.”

“Since you’ve come into office, things are really looking up, you know, gas’s up, rent’s up, food’s up. Everything,” the comedian said, not without irony.

The last WHCA gala, before the pandemic hit, was in 2019 and Trump did not attend. Last year, comedian Michelle Wolf’s jokes angered Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the former president’s press secretary.

WHCA President Steven Portnoy, a CBS radio employee, said it was time to return to tradition with an evening dedicated to the great journalists of history, awards for today and tribute “to colleagues who have died in Ukraine” .

With information from the AP and AFP.