Webdesk: US President Joe Biden claimed that former president Donald Trump offered him hush money to shorten his speech.
At the White House Correspondents’ Association annual dinner, 80-year-old Joe Biden sarcastically mocked his opponents. He jokingly offered $10 to shorten his speech.
“That’s different—a president offered hush money.” He mocked the former president, who was charged with 34 felonies by the Manhattan grand jury this month for paying Stormy Daniels $130,000 in 2016.
Joe Biden announced his 2024 re-election bid on Tuesday, drawing age criticism.
Due to his age, Biden’s second presidential run is less popular.
“I believe in the first amendment, not just because my good friend Jimmy Madison wrote it,” Biden told Washington’s 2,600 guests about free speech.
“Look, age is a perfectly reasonable issue,” he said. Everyone—the New York Times—considers it. Biden’s age matters. Trump’s isn’t.
He joked about CNN firing Don Lemon for his sexist remarks.
Don Lemon said Nikki Haley, 51, “isn’t in her prime” because “a woman is in her prime in her 20s, 30s, and maybe 40s.”
“They say I’m ancient; I say I’m wise,” said President Biden. I’m old, but Don Lemon says, “That’s a man in his prime.”
“I want everybody to have fun tonight but please be safe,” he told Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Confused? Drunk or Marjorie Taylor Greene.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s dispute with Disney
He joked about Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s dispute with Disney: “I a lot of Ron DeSantis jokes ready but Mickey Mouse beat the hell out of me and got there first.”
He told House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, “Look, you all keep reporting my approval rating as 42%. I doubt. What’s your secret, Joe? Kevin McCarthy called. That’s serious.”
He ridiculed Fox News’ $787.5m defamation settlement with Dominion Voting Systems for claiming the 2020 elections rigged for Biden.
Cable news is great tonight. NBCUniversal-owned MSNBC. Fox News owned by Dominion Voting Systems,” Biden laughed and applauded.
“Your favourite Fox News reporters attended last year because they fully vaccinated and boosted. “This year, with that $787m settlement, they’re here because they couldn’t say no to a free meal,” he joked.
Despite dinner laughter, Biden denounced press freedom violations and misinformation that could undermine democracy.
In another 2024 theme, Biden accused media of spreading “lies told for profit and power” to incite hatred.
Profitable lies. Conspiracy and malice lies repeated to incite anger, hatred, and violence.”
The 2020–2021 pandemic rescheduled the dinner. Biden accepted after Trump declined.
