President Joe Biden, appearing at one of DC’s oldest traditions, the Gridiron Dinner, made some sharp quips about Donald Trump but then turned serious about the threat that his rival poses to democracy.
Biden directed his barbs at his own age and at his predecessor.
“One candidate’s too old and mentally unfit to be president,” Biden said. “The other guy’s me.”
The dinner tradition, which dates to the 19th century, is a white-tie night that routinely draws the top echelons of government, media and business to watch journalists perform musical skits and politicians, also including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Utah Governor Spencer Cox, do some of their own standup.
Biden noted that his student debt relief program “doesn’t apply to everyone. Just yesterday, a defeated-looking man came up and said, “I’m being crushed by debt. I’m completely wiped out.” I said, ‘Sorry, Donald I can’t help out.’”
Noting that Mitch McConnell was stepping down as GOP leader, Biden said, “I hate to see a friend give up in his prime.”
The event — the 139th dinner — featured figures like ABC News’ Jon Karl and CBS News’ Ed O’Keefe in the skits, before an audience that also included Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
The most unexpected attendee was perhaps Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok, who has been meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill as Congress moves toward legislation to force its divestiture from its China-owned parent ByteDance or face being banned on app stores. Chew later shook hands with Biden as the president lingered for a bit afterward chatting with attendees.
Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder and owner of The Washington Post, sat next to Biden on the dais, while Leo Eric Varadkar, the Irish Taoiseach, sat just a few seats down from the person he bears a striking resemblance to, Emhoff. Sure enough, there was a joke about their likeness.
Biden said of the Irish prime minister, “He took one look at Congress and he asked for another Guinness.”
Biden, like other speakers, ended on a serious note.
“As I said in my State of the Union address, we live in an unprecedented moment of democracy — an unprecedented moment in history,” Biden said. “Democracy and freedom are literally under attack. Putin’s on the march in Europe. My predecessor bows down to him and says, ‘Do whatever the hell you want.’”
Biden added, “Good journalism holds a mirror up to a country for us to reflect the good, the bad and the truth about who we are.”
Biden said to the journalism crowd, “It is not hyperbole. We need you. Democracy is at risk and the American people need to know. In fractured times, they need a context and perspective.“
He added, “Every single one of us has a role to play in making sure American democracy endures. This year, you, the free press, have a bigger role than ever. Let me state the obvious: You are not the enemy of the people. You are a pillar of any free society.”
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