It seems there were two standup comedians at the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Sunday: Saturday Night Live writer Colin Jost and President Biden.
Since 1921, the dinner celebrating freedom of the press brings together journalists and politicians for a night of friendly jabs and to raise money for scholarships. Roughly 2,600 people attended the annual event this year at the Washington Hilton Hotel, while outside protesters against Israel’s war in Gaza chanted “Shame on you!” and “Free, free Palestine!”
Inside, though, all eyes were on Biden and Jost, who largely took aim at former President Donald Trump’s legal woes. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s event.
👴🏻 Biden poked fun at Trump — and himself
In a speech lasting roughly 10 minutes, Biden, 81, acknowledged the frequent criticisms about his advanced age while poking fun at his opponent.
“The 2024 election’s in full swing and yes, age is an issue. I’m a grown man running against a 6-year-old,” Biden joked. Of Trump, 77, he said, “Age is the only thing we have in common. My vice president actually endorses me.”
The president also referenced Trump’s ongoing trial in New York City involving alleged hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It was notable given that he’s forbidden his aides to publicly speak about Trump’s legal battles, according to an article in the New York Times.
“Trump is so desperate he started reading those Bibles he’s selling,” he said. “He got to the first commandment: You shall have no other God before me. That’s when he put it down and said, ‘This book is not for me.’”
Trump wasn’t Biden’s only target. The president also mocked Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, who was escorted out of a theater for unruly behavior last year. “If Congress were theater, they would have thrown out Lauren Boebert a long time ago,” he said.
Jost called out the differences between Biden and Trump
As the emcee for the night, Jost highlighted the differences between Biden and Trump, saying that nothing about the 2024 presidential election “makes sense anymore.”
“The candidate who’s a famous New York City playboy took abortion rights away, and the guy who is trying to get your abortion rights back is an 80-year-old Catholic,” Jost said.
In the end, the SNL star offered a heartfelt endorsement of the current president with a tribute to his late grandfather, who supported Biden in 2020.
“The reason that he voted for you is because you’re a decent man,” Jost said. “My grandpa voted for decency, and decency is why we’re all here tonight.”
