Biden, Roy Wood Jr. serve up laughs at White House Correspondents' Dinner


Journalists and celebrities alike descended Saturday on the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner. President Biden and host Roy Wood Jr. brought laughs to what is undoubtedly one of comedy's toughest crowds.
Despite its jokes, the dinner is actually billed as an event to celebrate freedom of the press. Biden started off his time at the podium on a somber note, pledging to stand alongside American journalists detained overseas. He highlighted Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested just weeks ago in Russia.
"Everyone in this hall stands with you," Biden said of Gershkovich, adding that his administration was "working every day to secure his release."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Once he transitioned to jokes, Biden poked fun at his advanced age, saying he believes "in the First Amendment, and not just because my good friend Jimmy Madison wrote it." He also got in some jabs on Fox's Rupert Murdoch, saying he "makes me look like Harry Styles."
Biden also quipped about his potential opponents in the 2024 presidential election, including former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Of the latter, Biden said, "He was asked if he had a mandate. He said, 'Hell no, I'm straight!'"
Wood, a correspondent on The Daily Show, then took to the dais asking the crowd to "give it up for Dark Brandon." He started off with some good-natured jabs against Biden, saying he "left some of your classified documents up here," adding that the president "thinks I'm the daddy on Family Matters."
He then used his time to take swipes at numerous cable networks, particularly Fox News, Tucker Carlson, and Don Lemon. In a notable joke that elicited pauses, Wood said not to worry about drag queens in schools because "most of those kids are going to get shot at school, it ain't no problem."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Nepal chooses toddler as its new ‘living goddess’
Under the Radar Girls between two and four are typically chosen to live inside the temple as the Kumari – until puberty strikes
-
October 5 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include half-truth hucksters, Capitol lockdown, and more
-
Jaguar Land Rover’s cyber bailout
Talking Point Should the government do more to protect business from the ‘cyber shockwave’?
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoff
Speed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies
-
YouTube to pay Trump $22M over Jan. 6 expulsion
Speed Read The president accused the company of censorship following the suspension of accounts post-Capitol riot
-
Oregon sues to stop Trump military deployment
Speed Read The president wants to send the National Guard into Portland