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Biden attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner that Trump has suspended since taking office and canceled two years due to Covid-19
US President Joe Biden has resumed the tradition of hosting and speaking to White House correspondents’ annual dinner, calling former President Donald Trump a “terrible scourge” and mocking Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Biden is the first president to speak to reporters at this event since 2016, in which the president is subjected to friendly mockery in front of an audience of journalists, after a six-year hiatus since the era of former President Donald Trump.
President Donald Trump has boycotted this dinner since taking office in 2016, and then it was also banned for two years due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic.
Comedian and The Daily Show host Trevor Noah fronted Saturday’s event.
picture released, Huw Evans picture agency
Comedian and The Daily Show host Trevor Noah topped dinner and mocked Biden
The ceremony is attended annually by celebrities along with famous journalists, high-ranking US officials as well as accredited correspondents at the White House, an American journalistic tradition that dates back to 1921.
Celebrities at this year’s gala included Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson, Drew Barrymore and Chris Tucker.
Biden spoke of being the first US president to attend the event since 2016, in an ironic reference to former President Donald Trump, who he described as a “scourge.”
“This is the first time a president has attended this dinner in six years,” he said. “It is understandable, we have had a terrible affliction, followed by two years of Covid.”
Added comedian Trevor Noah when he later took the podium: “It’s actually nice to have again a president who’s not afraid to come to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and hear jokes about himself.”
The president himself has also gotten his share of ridicule.
picture released, Getty Images
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and his wife Evan Ryan at dinner
Noah mocked Biden, saying, “Since I took office, things have really started to get better. Gas has gone up, rent has gone up, food has gone up. Everything.”
The comedian added, “President Biden’s lack of a filter sometimes leads him to Facing very difficult situations.” Last month, Biden caused an unprecedented international uproar when he said it was necessary to remove Russian President Vladimir Putin from power.
Noah commented, “It was very upsetting to Russia. Until someone made it clear to them that Biden was not doing any of the things he wanted.”
picture released, EPA
Biden was ridiculed for rising energy, rent and fuel prices
The dinner comes as cases of COVID-19 have risen in Washington in recent weeks, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Organizers requested that guests be tested for the virus, and some top officials, including infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, 81, withdrew.
The President did not attend dinner in the evening, only the speakers’ programme.
picture released, Getty Images
Gayle King, the famous CBS anchor, attended her first dinner in six years
picture released, Getty Images
Actress and broadcaster Drew Barrymore was among the celebrities, stars and journalists who attended the White House
In recent weeks, Biden has mostly not worn a mask at crowded White House events, which were less attended than Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Gala, which was expected to seat about 2,600 people.
Biden mocked Fox News anchors, many of whom were involved in questioning vaccinations on air, and demanded that they prove they had the vaccination in order to attend.
picture released, Archyde.com
US Attorney General Benjamin Crump was among the dignitaries at the ceremony
picture released, Getty Images
Famous actor and director Mario Fan next to American comedian Chris Tucker
He also could not resist dealing a painful blow to President Putin in his closing statements, before handing over the podium to host Noah.
“The really good news is, now you can make fun of the president of the United States,” Biden told Trevor. “And unlike in Moscow, you’re not going to jail.”