Biden speaks at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Thank you, thank you, thank you, do you think you are Irish grandparents? Are you wondering my great great grandparents who came here in 1846 and when what the heck is going on? I want to thank you for the warm welcome, but please, not so strongly. Donal was listening. Mr. Dream, I like being able to use that again Kelly O'Donnell president of the White House Correspondence Association thank you for inviting me thank you Mr. Kello let's be honest you're too young to be president it's been a year since I gave this speech and my wife jill was with me tonight she was worried how do I do it I told her don't worry it's like riding a bike say that's what I'm worried about of course the 2024 election in full swing and yes age is a problem.

I'm a grown man running against a six-year-old boy. Well, I feel great, I really feel great. I'm campaigning across the country. Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina. I've always done well in the original 13 colonies, and speaking of History, right? Listen to what Donald just said about the important Civil War battle. Gettysburg Quote. Wow, Trump's speech was so embarrassing. The statue of Robert El surrendered again, but look, age is the only thing we have in common. State of the Union Well, Donald has had some rough days lately, you could call it stormy weather, what the heck? Trump, so desperate that he started reading those Bibles that he was selling, then he got to the first commandment, you shall have no other gods before me, that's when I left him and said this book is not for me.

Look, being here is a reminder that people think that what's happening in the political theater of Congress is not true. If Congress were a theater, they would have thrown out Lauren Bobbert a long time ago, all my friends. in the press and on Fox News some of you complain that I don't take enough of your questions without comment, of course the New York Times issued a statement with the last name to actively quote and effectively avoid independent journalists, hey, If that's what it takes to get the New York Times you say I'm active and effective. I'm agree.

Alright. I have higher standards. I do interviews with strong independent journalists who millions of people actually listen to, like Howard Stern, and I know you're looking around and saying. this guy's been doing this for 50 years he's had his time give him a little give someone else a chance to say that i say lauren ignore the criticism ignore the criticism lauren is a great friend who has had eight comedians play me over the years years on Saturday Night Live eight and who the hell says I'm not a real job Creator look Lawrence had even more comedians and actors joking about me like the funny guy on Weekend Update Michael Shay is hilarious Scarlet Johanson, you did an amazing job on your rebuttal of the state of the union you should be here this weekend to do Weekend Update you are clearly the funny one in the family look people, a serious note in addition to getting married Colin and I have another thing in common, we both find strength in the family, I have to pass Sometime with his family yesterday in the Oval Office Colin's father was a high school teacher in Staten Island and his mother is an incredible woman a family of firefighters was a medical chief at the New York City Fire Department in 911 as a doctor rushed to Ground My definition of patriotism and heroism is zero, risking your own life trying and saving other first responders running into danger for others, and so is what you all do when you report the truth over the lies , that is why I want to close tonight with my genuine thanks to the Free Press there are some who call you an enemy of the people, that is wrong and dangerous, you literally risk your life doing your job, covering everything from natural disasters to pandemics, wars and much more, and some of your colleagues have given their lives. and many have suffered serious injuries other reporters have lost their freedom clearly journalism is not a crime here or there or anywhere in the world and Putin should release Evan and also immediately we are doing everything we can we are doing everything we can bring home journalist Austin and all Americans like Paul, who you know, who unjustly detained all over the world and I give my orders to Biden.

We're not going to give up until we get everyone home. On the third anniversary of January 6, I went to Valley Forge and said that the most pressing question of our time is whether democracy remains America's sacred cause; That's the question the American people must answer this year, and you have the biggest role to play. critical role in ensuring that the American people have the information they need to make an informed decision. A defeated former president has made no secret of his attack on our democracy. He said that he wants to be a dictator from day one and tells his followers much more. he is his revenge and retribution when in the name of god did you ever hear another president say something like that and he promised a bloodbath when he loses again we have to take this seriously eight years ago you could have written him off it was just a Trump talk, but no.

Not after January 6th. Honestly, I'm not asking you to take sides, but I'm asking you to rise to the seriousness of the moment, rise above the horse race numbers and the cheating moments and the distractions that the sides show have arrived. to master sensationalizing our politics and focus on what is really at stake and I think in your hearts you know that the stakes couldn't be higher, each of us has to play a serious role in ensuring democracy Lasts American democracy. I am more my role, but with all due respect, so do you in the age of misinformation.

Credible information that people can trust is more important than ever and that makes you, and I say this from the bottom of my heart, makes you more important than ever. So tonight I would like to raise a toast to the true Free Press for an informed citizenry for an America where freedom and democracy endure. God bless America. Now I'll turn it over to Kelly and then you'll hear from a real comedian. I believe i know it. What's in store for me, you know, Colin Joose has caught my attention before with the joke of him, oh, I'm sure you're ready to say it after winning the South Carolina primary.

Biden barely edged out his closest rival, Colin, when I won. G, I will have a lot of time and I will be watching my shy friend, thank you Mr., thank you very much.