Headlined by President Joe Biden and hosted by comedian Roy Wood, Jr., the event featured an array of jokes, interactions, and moments of seriousness.
During the dinner, President Biden, serving his second term in the White House, poked fun at his age. At 80 years old, he is preparing for a potential run for a second term.
"I believe in the First Amendment, not just because my good friend Jimmy Madison wrote it," Biden quipped. The President also took a jab at Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor fired earlier this month following controversial comments about a woman's age and her "prime."
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Biden said, "You call me old, I call it being seasoned. 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."
May 01, 2023
Fox News was also a target for Biden's humor after the network settled a lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for over $700 million earlier this month.
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"Last year, your favorite Fox News reporters were able to attend because they were fully vaccinated and boosted," he said. "This year, with the $787 million dollar settlement, they're here because they couldn't say no to a free meal."
Biden took a severe turn when discussing Americans detained overseas in Russia, specifically addressing the case of Evan Gershkovich, the jailed Wall Street Journal reporter.
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The media industry has rallied behind Gershkovich, and the President advocated for his release, as well as that of Evan Tice, who was kidnapped while reporting in Syria in 2012. "Journalism is not a crime," Biden stated. "Evan and Austin should be released immediately, along with every American held hostage or wrongly detained abroad."
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Roy Wood Jr., a correspondent for "The Daily Show," also had his share of jokes during the dinner. He teased Biden, suggesting that the President left classified documents on the podium but focused most of his remarks on media figures and news companies.
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In the wake of the departures of Don Lemon from CNN and Tucker Carlson from Fox News, Wood said, "We gotta get Tucker back on the air, Mr. President, because right now there are millions of Americans that don't even know why they hate you."
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Wood also criticized Republicans for opposing specific educational policies, such as teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT). He pointed to scandal-ridden Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as a punchline.
"Anti-CRT policies are an attack on Black history and an attempt to erase the contributions of Black people from the history books," Wood said, eliciting applause. "And a lot of Black people wouldn't mind that erasure as long as that Black person is Clarence Thomas."
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The dinner was attended by presidential candidates, journalists, and several celebrities. WNBA star and Olympian Brittney Griner, who was detained in Russia for about ten months after being accused of possessing hashish oil in her luggage at a Moscow airport, was present. Her detention and subsequent release made international headlines.
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Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R), a 2024 presidential hopeful, also attended the dinner. He shared with The Hill that he had the opportunity to meet Griner recently.
The presence of Griner and other celebrities, such as actress Rosario Dawson and actor Justin Hartley, marked a return of famous guests to the event, as they largely stayed away during the Trump years and the pandemic.
President Biden acknowledged the "dark Brandon" meme that has gained popularity in political, social media circles. The meme usually features the President with laser beams emanating from his eyes, signifying his supposed dark alter-ego.
Supporters have used this to troll conservatives after significant accomplishments by the administration. "I'm gonna be fine with your jokes," Biden said. Then, donning his aviator sunglasses, he added: "But I'm not sure about Dark Brandon." The President's recognition of the meme was met with laughter and applause.
The "dark Brandon" meme has even been embraced by his 2024 re-election campaign team, with his website featuring a "dark Brandon" photo with "2024" beneath it.
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