Biden takes shots during Washington Correspondents Dinner

Joe Biden used his time on the podium at the White House Correspondents’ dinner to take some well-timed digs at Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tucker Carlson, and even Donald Trump – flexing his comedic muscles in the process.

The jokes from the head of state came after he touched on the serious subject of the freedom of the press and the recent detainment of journalists like the Wall Street Journal’s Evan Gershkovich, as well as WNBA star Britney Griner.

Griner was among the various figured in attendance at the Washington Hilton auditorium to hear the president speak, and was even called on by Biden to stand during his speech, before being met with a round of uproarious applause.

But after those topics were addressed, Biden, 80, took the rare chance to lambaste his conservative counterparts using humor – seizing it with virtually no verbal flubs or mishaps to take away from his timing.

The result were a barrage of barbs that honed in on not only the Georgia Firebrand and axed Fox News personality, but  Don Lemon and Gov. Ron DeSantis, honing in on recent comments that may have gotten the former axed from his post at CNN, in which he suggested that women over 40 were no longer ‘in their prime.’

Seeing the opportunity for a needle at the expense of his fellow progressive, Biden began the joke by referencing his status as the older head of state in history.

‘Call me old? I call it being seasoned,’ he joked, before adding, ‘You say I’m ancient. I say I’m wise. You say I’m over the hill. Don Lemon would say that’s a man in his prime.’

The president joked that Fox News are here ‘because they can’t afford to say no to a free meal,’ referencing the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit settlement the conservative news network made recently.

‘I’d call Fox News fair, hones and truthful, but then I’d been sued for defamation,’ he joked.

For their part, Fox News’ staffers including Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy was seen chuckling along with the audience at the gag.

Chuck Schumer and actress Julia Fox were among some of the early arrivals for Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner – with the unlikely pair raising some eyebrows as they made their way down the red carpet side by side.

Clad in a tuxedo for the black-tie event, the 72-year-old Senate leader posed for multiple photos with the Uncut Gems actress, who last month vehemently denied using diabetes meds to lose weight during an ill-fated fling with rapper Kanye West.

Known for daring, sometimes atypical fashion choices, the 33-year-old model elected for a less traditional getup – donning some dramatic face makeup and a black, leather ensemble that would make both Beetlejuice and Kiss proud.

Also seen arriving was headliner Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr., who recently said that his goal as host is simply to walk away still with a job. Other high-profile attendees seen piling into the Washington Hilton included Kelly Ripa and Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey.

All dressed to the nines, the amalgam of stars and politicians managed to circumvent a boisterous group of climate activists who formed a blockade outside, promising to prohibit entry.

 

Others seen mingling outside the Washington Hilton’s hallowed auditorium included CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, and Parks and Rec’s Billy Eichner, with President Biden poised to arriving within the hour as well. 

The youth-led group posed up outside previously posted a video accusing the president of committing ‘ecocide’ – a term used to describe the destruction of the environment by deliberate or negligent action.

Outside the Hilton around 7pm – about an hour removed from the dinner’s scheduled start time – members who have taken issue with Biden’s recent approval of several oil projects were seen shouting and egging on members of the Metro police.

The procession has so far remained peaceful, but remained stationed outside as other notable personalities arrived at the event – with the chaos outside doing little to deter the festivities.

CBS broadcaster Gayle King, for instance, was seen waving at paparazzi while posing on the red carpet with a hot-pink, full length number that harked back to Reese Witherspoons’ character in Legally Blonde.

Kaitlan Collins, who up until last week was Don Lemon’s co-anchor on CNN This Morning before the newscasters’ abrupt ouster, also stopped to pose for the cameras, showing off tasteful, bedazzled black dress – with a bag to match.

Outspoken Democrat – and onetime George W. Bush Diplomat – Fran Drescher also was seen making her way in the hotel, with the 65-year-old Nanny star emanating class in an all-white suit.

Also donning all-white was White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who also arrived unhindered despite the activists still seen outside.

Back on Thursday, the 48-year-old Biden staffer incited controversy when she addressed a recent photo of the head of state holding what appeared to be a cheat sheet of a reporter’s question during a White House press briefing, calling it ‘entirely normal.’

The president will get a rare chance to flex his comedic muscles Saturday, as perhaps the most anticipated speaker of the night – in front of a star-studded audience that will also include his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, and recently released WNBA star Brittany Griner.

Griner, who recently said she was ‘done’ playing overseas following he ten-month detention in Moscow, is set to attend with partner Cherelle Griner as guests of CBS News. 

The pair were not seen among the amalgam of stars and political personalities arriving ahead of the event’s scheduled 8pm start.

That said, other big names spotted included Father-son journalist pair Peter and Steve Doocy, of Fox News, who also stopped to wave at snappers before finding their seat.

Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman, too, made a red-carpet appearance, posing for a photo with wife Gisele roughly a month removed from his six-week stint at  Walter Reed for depression.

Fetterman, 53, finally dressed up for the occasion after being met with backlash online for his unformal attire during his first day back at the Capitol less than two weeks ago, of a hoodie, gym shorts, and sneakers.

Since facing criticism for donning clothes many felt unbecoming of an elected official, the politician refused to take any questions from reporters, a few months removed from his hard-fought victory over Republican Rival Mehmet – better known by his TV descriptor, ‘Dr’ – Oz.

Others seen before the dinner’ start included United States Army General Mark Alexander Milley and the reverend Al Sharpton.

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk