WASHINGTON — The big news this week, President Joe Biden said during a weekend in Washington, was that two candidates had secured their party’s nomination for president. But one was too old, too mentally unfit for the job, he said.
“The other one is me,” Bidden joked.
The pushback against Republican Donald Trump continued to come from the president at the annual Gridiron Club and Foundation Dinner, as Biden fended off persistent criticism that his memory is hazy and he appears confused, instead highlighting moments when the 77- year-old Trump made a mistake. at.
“Don’t tell him, he thinks he’s running against Barack Obama, that’s what he said,” said the 81-year-old Biden, who also joked that he stayed up way past his bedtime.
It was the first time Biden attended the dinner during his presidency, and it comes as the 2024 election looms and the rematch between Biden and Trump intensifies. The annual bacchanal, now in its 139th year, dates back to 1885 – the year President Grover Cleveland refused to attend. Every president since has come to at least one Gridiron.
However, Biden quickly turned somber, highlighting what he sees as a real threat to democracy if Trump — who continues to falsely claim the 2020 election was stolen — returns to the White House. The speech had echoes of Biden’s campaign remarks, which both criticized Trump for being too soft on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We are living in an unprecedented moment in democracy,” he said. “An unprecedented moment for history. Democracy and freedom are literally under attack. Putin is on the march in Europe. My pastor bows to him and tells him, “do whatever you want.”
Biden then introduced Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.
“We will not bow down. They will not bow, and I will not bow,” he said.
Biden, dressed as usual in white tie, brought along his daughter Ashley.
The dinner has a reputation as an evening of bipartisan merriment and was packed with politicians and who’s who of Washington, including Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff, at least eight other Cabinet members and at least five members of Congress. , five governors and at least five ambassadors. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who is in town for St. Patrick’s Day, was also in attendance.
Also speaking at the dinner were Harris, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, and Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican.
Biden closed the dinner and also spoke about the importance of a free press. While he may not agree with everything the news media publishes, he understands the need for journalism and says he is still working to bring home journalists Evan Gershovich and Austin Tice, one held in Russia, the another disappeared during a reporting trip. in Syria.
“Good journalism holds a mirror up to society,” he said. “We need you.”
Biden and Harris sat at the main table, along with other administration officials and the foreign leaders, plus Gridiron President Dan Balz of the Washington Post. Also at the table were Balz’s bosses, Post editor-in-chief Sally Buzbee, and the newspaper’s owner, Jeff Bezos.
Dinner took place at the Grand Hyatt. No photos or TV were allowed.
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Associated Press writer Joey Cappelletti in Lansing, Michigan, contributed to this report.