1 May 2022, 02:58 • 4 minutes reading Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email this article The White House correspondents’ dinner returned Saturday night, two years after the pandemic closed and six years since the last time a commander-in-chief attended the event. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden attended the charity event at the Washington Hilton, the first incumbent president to do so since 2016. Former President Donald Trump vocally declined his three invitations during his tenure. Biden referred to his predecessor during his speech and said: “We had a horrible plague followed by two years of COVID.” He also joked about his current position in the polls and described the reporters in the room as “the only group of Americans with the lowest acceptance score of me.” The President informed the issue of the evening and honored the gathered journalists. “You, the free press, are more important than ever in the last century,” Biden said. The event is hosted by the White House Correspondents’ Association, which represents White House journalists, and has been a tradition since 1921. The dinner aims to raise awareness about the First Amendment, raise money for news programs, and includes jokes about the president. , Washington, the community and other news topics. The president usually has a speech where he gives his own jokes. The presenter of “The Daily Show” Trevor Noah attended this year’s dinner. The event is expected to be attended by other non-political celebrities, such as Drew Barrymore, Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson. Trevor Noah reaches the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, April 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. Noah mocked the White House Correspondents’ Supper as a “hype spread.” He also noted that the Washington elite had gathered just weeks after the outbreak of COVID-19. “Actually, what are we doing here?” None of you learned anything from the Gridiron dinner? Nothing? “He said. “You’ve spent the last two years telling everyone the importance of wearing masks and avoiding large gatherings at home, after the second one offers you a free dinner, you all become Joe Rogan.” The pandemic forced the WHCA to cancel dinner in 2020 and 2021. Although COVID-19 cases are on the rise and many members of the White House have recently been infected with the virus, including Vice President Kamala Harris, the show has continued. The organizers said that all participants should be vaccinated and should provide proof of a negative test. Concerns over dinner security have risen since the outbreak of COVID-19 after the Gridiron Club dinner on April 2. Dozens of elected officials, including Parliament Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have been infected with the virus. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters Friday that Biden was taking extra precautions. “He will not attend dinner. He is coming for the program. So … he will probably wear a mask when he is not talking,” he said. “And then of course he sits at the front of the interaction and does not attend any of the receptions.” ABC News’ Libby Cathey contributed to this report.
