The big news this week is that two candidates have clinched their party's nomination for president, President Biden said over the weekend in Washington. But he said one of them was too old and mentally unfit for the job.
“The other one is me,” Biden quipped.
Criticism of Republican Donald Trump from the Democratic president continued at the Gridiron Club and Foundation's annual dinner on Saturday, where Biden sidestepped persistent criticism that his memory is foggy and that he appears disoriented, instead highlighting moments when the 77-year-old Trump slipped up.
“Don't tell him he thinks he's running against Barack Obama, that's what he said,” said Biden, 81, who also joked that he stays up past his bedtime.
This was the first time that Biden attended the dinner during his presidency, and it comes as the 2024 elections approach and the competition between Biden and Trump intensifies. The annual bacchanalia, now in its 139th year, dates back to 1885 — the year President Grover Cleveland refused to attend. Every boss since then has come to at least one Gridiron.
However, Biden quickly veered into a sobering topic, highlighting what he sees as a real threat to democracy should Trump — who continues to falsely claim that the 2020 election was stolen — return to the White House. The speech carried echoes of Biden's campaign statements, in which he also criticized his Republican Party rival as too lenient with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We are living through an unprecedented moment in democracy,” he said. “An unprecedented moment in history. Democracy and freedom are literally under attack. Putin is on a march in Europe. My predecessor bows down to him and tells him: 'Do whatever you want.'”
Biden then introduced Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova and Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.
“We will not bow. They will not kneel and I will not bow.”
Biden, who was dressed in white tie as usual, brought his daughter Ashley with him.
Known as a night of bipartisan fun, the dinner was packed with politicians and Washington figures, including Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, at least eight other members of the Cabinet, and at least five members of the Cabinet. Congress, five governors, and at least five ambassadors. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who is in town for St. Patrick's Day, also attended the ceremony.
Harris, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, also spoke at the dinner.
Biden concluded the dinner by talking about the importance of a free press. Although he may not agree with everything the news media reports, he understands the necessity of journalism, and said he is still working on the return of journalists Evan Gershovich and Austin Tice, one of whom is detained in Russia and the other who disappeared during a press trip. in Syria.
“Good journalism holds a mirror up to society,” he said. “We need you.”
Biden and Harris sat at the main table with other administration officials and foreign leaders, as well as Gridiron Chairman Dan Balz of The Washington Post. Also sitting at the table were Pals' co-chairs, Sally Buzbee, executive editor of The Washington Post, and Jeff Bezos, the newspaper's owner.
The dinner was held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. No photos or TV cameras were allowed.
Long writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Joey Cappelletti in Lansing, Michigan, contributed to this report.
