Joe Biden took multiple swipes at President Donald Trump last night at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, suggesting that his presidency was “a horrible plague.”
After attacking Trump, Biden heaped praise on “some guy named Brandon” who he said seems to be “having a really good year.”
However, he got his biggest laughs when he came clean about his dismal performance as president.
Biden said: “The free press is not the enemy of the people, far from it. The truth matters. American democracy is not a reality show. It’s not a reality show. It’s reality itself. Special thanks to the 42 percent of you that actually applauded. I’m really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans with a lower approval rating than I have.”
“This is the first time the president attended this dinner in six years. It’s understandable, we had a horrible plague — followed by two years of COVID. Just imagine if my predecessor came to this dinner this year. Now that would have been a real coup if that occurred.
“But Republicans seem to support one fella — some guy named Brandon. He’s having a really good year, and I’m happy for him.
“All of this is taking place with misinformation massively on the rise, where the truth is buried by lies and the lies live on as truth. What’s clear, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, that you, the free press, matter more than you ever did in the last century.”
Host Trevor Noah mocked Biden and the media: “You know, last month he caused a huge international incident, saying that Vladimir Putin should be removed from power. It was very, very upsetting to Russia.
President Biden: “We had a horrible plague followed by two years of COVID.”#WHCD #WHCD2022 #nerdprom pic.twitter.com/jSeUCGrUE5
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 1, 2022
“Yeah, until someone explained to them that none of the stuff Biden wants actually gets done.
“If you ever begin to doubt how meaningful it is, look no for than what is happening in Ukraine. Look at what’s happening.
“These journalists are risking and even losing their lives to show the world what is really happening. You realize how amazing it is. In America, you have the right to seek the truth and speak the truth, even if it makes people in power uncomfortable.
“Even if it makes your viewers or your readers uncomfortable. To understand how amazing that is? I stood here tonight and made fun of the President Of The United States. I’m going to be fine. I’m going to be fine, right?
“Like, do you really understand what a blessing it is? Maybe it’s happened for so long that it has slipped your mind. It is a blessing. Here, ask yourself this question. Honestly, ask yourself this question.
“If Russian journalists, who are losing their livelihoods, as you were talking about, Steve, and their freedom for daring to report and with their own government is doing — if they had the freedom to write any words, to show any stories, to ask any questions — if they had, basically, what you have, would they be using in the same way that you do?
“Ask yourself that question every day. You have one of the most important roles in the world. Thank you so much for having me,” he said.
President Biden: “I’m not here to roast the GOP. That’s not my style. Besides, there’s nothing I can say about the GOP that Kevin McCarthy hasn’t already put on tape.”#WHCD #WHCD2022 #nerdprom pic.twitter.com/LmT4A8JxBs
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 1, 2022
FULL REMARKS from Trevor Noah @trevornoah here –> https://t.co/is4SrU850L#WHCD2022 #WHCD #NerdProm https://t.co/6mfjKq321K
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 1, 2022
