Biden provokes Trump at election-year correspondents' dinner

US President Joe Biden addressed the election year on Saturday night at the White House Correspondents' Association's annual dinner, as protesters outside criticized his support for Israel's war against Hamas.

Biden used the annual gala to criticize Republican rival Donald Trump for immaturity, poke fun at his own advanced age and give advice to the Washington press corps.

“Yes, age is a problem. I’m a grown man, running against a 6-year-old,” Biden joked.

Biden, 81, later added of former President Trump, 77: “Age is the only thing we have in common. My vice president really supports me.”

Trump reacted to the event by calling it “very bad” in a post on his Truth Social platform. “Joe was an absolute disaster! It can't get much worse than that!” he said.

Protesters holding banners outside the meeting at the Washington Hilton protested the deaths of journalists in Gaza. Hundreds of protesters encouraged journalists to boycott the annual event and shouted at government officials as they entered.

Biden avoided the large protests in front of the hotel, arriving through a back entrance, where he was greeted by smaller groups of protesters calling for a ceasefire.

At the centenary event, hundreds of journalists, politicians and celebrities gathered in a huge hall. The event usually features a friendly address from the president in a closing speech to reporters and other guests in the audience.

Biden gave some advice to the press team.

“Honestly, I’m not asking you to take sides. I am asking you to embrace the seriousness of the moment. Set aside the horse race numbers, the distractions, the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensationalize our politics, and focus on what's really at stake,” Biden said.

This year, the event was hosted by “Saturday Night Live” member Colin Jost.

Source: CNN Brasil

You may also like