During a spirited media dinner in Washington, President Joe Biden took a humorous swing at the topic of age and directly jabbed at his predecessor, Donald Trump. In a room filled with laughter, the 81-year-old president quipped, “One candidate is too old and mentally unfit for the presidency. And then there’s me,” drawing a clear line between himself and 77-year-old Trump.
Biden, attending the Gridiron Club dinner for his inaugural time as president, didn’t shy away from addressing the elephant in the room—his age—while playfully critiquing members of Congress for focusing on an impeachment inquiry into his son instead of more pressing national issues.
The evening also saw President Biden alongside Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, advocating for continued military support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing Russian invasion. Not missing a beat, Biden soon redirected the evening’s levity back towards Trump. He critiqued Trump’s economic management during the pandemic and mockingly referred to his infamous suggestion to inject bleach as a COVID-19 remedy, stating, “I wish these were jokes, but unfortunately, they’re not.”
Highlighting the serious undertone of his jest, Biden addressed the significant challenges democracy currently faces, from Putin’s aggression in Europe to the unsettling events of January 6, 2021, at the Capitol. Reiterating his dedication to preserving democracy, he commended journalists for their indispensable role in maintaining a free society.
The Gridiron Club dinner, known for its blend of humor and political banter, serves as a rare occasion where Washington’s political and media elites gather in a less formal setting. The event, characterized by its off-the-record nature, showcases the lighter side of political discourse, reminiscent of Trump’s own participation in previous years, where he too engaged in jests about the press and international affairs.
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