The President participated in his eighth (8th) and final Correspondence Dinner this past weekend.
Washington, D.C. had many glamorous celebrities descended on our nation’s capital for the 2016 White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Such famous faces as actors Will Smith, Rachel McAdams and Kerry Washington, singer Aretha Franklin, model Kendall Jenner and more attended the event, rubbing elbows with journalists and politicians.
The White House Correspondence Association (WHCA) dinner, begun in 1920, has become a Washington, D.C. tradition and is usually attended by the President and Vice President.
The White House press corps and the Administration. The dinner typically includes a skit, either live or videotaped, by the sitting President in which he mocks himself, for the amusement of the press corps. The press corps, in turn, hobnobs with Administration officials, even those who are unpopular and are not regularly cooperative with the press.
President Barack Obama routine was about 30 minutes and was filled with self deprecating humor, expressions of love for The First Lady, he remembered journalists that moved on to new jobs, attacked political adversaries and jabbed at potential successors.
His comedic timing and one-line delivery was on point and didn’t disappoint.
Some of the memorable moments were when he compared Hillary Clinton to an aunt who couldn’t figure out how to use Facebook, he called presidential democratic contender Bernie Sanders “comrade,” making fun of his Democratic socialist status and of course, Donald Trump:
“I am a little hurt [Donald Trump] is not here tonight. We had so much fun the last time. And it is surprising. You’ve got a room full of reporters, celebrities, cameras, and he says no. Is this dinner too tacky for The Donald? What could he possibly be doing instead? Is he at home, eating a Trump steak, tweeting out insults to Angela Merkel?
“There is one area where The Donald’s experience could be useful, and that is closing Guantanamo — Donald knows a thing or two about running waterfront properties into the ground.”
Comedian of the night, Larry Wilmore, probably got the biggest gasps of the night, especially when he called the President the “N” word.
“Words alone do me no justice. So Mr. President I’m going to keep it 100: Yo Barry, you did it my n—a,” Wilmore told the black tie audience, as he pounded his chest. “You did it.”
The President living up the hype of last year’s event seems to have outdone the comedian though.
Here are some of our favorite Obama jabs from the night:
“Eight years ago I said it was time to change the tone of politics, in hindsight I really should have been more specific.”
“I was running on CPT, which stands for jokes that white people should not make.”
“As you know, Spotlight is a film about investigative journalists with the resources, the autonomy, to chase down the truth and hold the powerful accountable. Best fantasy film since Star Wars.”
“Savannah Guthrie left the White House press corps to host The Today Show. Nora O’Donnell left the briefing room to host CBS This Morning. Jake Tapper left journalism to join CNN.”
And, like any true comedian, Obama turned the spotlight on himself:
“Last week Prince George showed up to our meeting in his bath robe. That was a slap in the face. A clear breach of protocol.”
