This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/01/obama-takes-aim-at-trump-and-republicans-at-final-correspondents-dinner

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Obama takes aim at Trump and Republicans at final Correspondents' Dinner Obama takes aim at Trump and Republicans at final correspondents' dinner
(35 minutes later)
President Barack Obama has taken to the podium for the eighth and final time as president at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, with Donald Trump and the ugly Republican race unsurprisingly the target of most of his jokes. Barack Obama has delivered a scathing satirical take-down of Donald Trump, lampooning the Republican frontrunner’s foreign policy and business credentials, and ending his final White House correspondents’ dinner by literally dropping the mic and saying: “Obama out.”
Obama drew plenty of laughs with his barbed remarks to a ballroom filled with journalists, politicians, and film and television stars.
Related: Stars, media and a dog at Obama's final correspondents' dinner – in picturesRelated: Stars, media and a dog at Obama's final correspondents' dinner – in pictures
“If this material works well, I’m going to use it at Goldman Sachs next year,” he joked in a reference to Hillary Clinton’s Wall Street speaking. In the traditional tongue-in-cheek address to the Washington press corps, the president also had fun at the expense of fellow Democrats Bernie Sanders, who was present, and Hillary Clinton, whose efforts to appeal to younger voters were mercilessly mocked.
Republicans took most of Obama’s humorous broadsides. Although he did not linger on Trump for as long as some had expected during the half-hour speech, especially those who recall the correspondents’ dinner in 2011 where he roasted the celebrity tycoon as he sat in the room, Obama did deliver some zingers.
When he said he couldn’t explain the continuing rise in his popularity, two photographs appeared on ballroom screens: Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. Watched by an audience that included politicians, journalists, actors and Trump’s two sons, he pretended to wind up his remarks before interrupting himself: “No, I’m just kidding, you know I’ve got to talk about Trump. We weren’t just going to stop there. Come on!
Obama said of Donald Trump: “He has spent years meeting with leaders from around the world – Miss Sweden, Miss Argentina, Miss Azerbaijan.” “Although I am a little hurt that he’s not here tonight. We had so much fun the last time. And it is surprising: you’ve got a room full of reporters, celebrities, cameras, and he says no. Is this dinner too tacky for The Donald? What could he possibly be doing instead? Is he at home eating a Trump steak, tweeting out insults to Angela Merkel? What’s he doing?”
He added: “And there’s one area where Donald’s experience could be invaluable, and that’s closing Guantanamo because Trump knows a thing or two about running waterfront properties into the ground” – a reference to the businessman’s Atlantic City casino operations. Evidently relishing this election year, Obama then made reference to Trump’s former ownership of the Miss Universe beauty pageant. “The Republican establishment is incredulous that he is the most likely nominee,” he continued. “Incredulous! Shocking! They say Donald lacks the foreign policy experience to be president but, in fairness, he has spent years meeting with leaders from around the world. Miss Sweden. Miss Argentina. Miss Azerbaijan.”
Obama took a few more swipes at the presidential race, noting that “next year at this time someone else will be standing here in this very spot, and it’s anyone’s guess who she will be.” As guests erupted in laughter, the candidate’s claim to be a winner in business was also targeted. “And there’s one area where Donald’s experience could be invaluable and that’s closing Guantanamo because Trump knows a thing or two about running waterfront properties into the ground.”
Acknowledging that he could now be considered a lame duck president, Obama joked about how painful losing status could be. Obama said he had more material but would leave it there, prompting the crowd to beg for more. He went on to make a sardonic-but-serious point about the avalanche of media coverage devoted to Trump, who has warned that any attempt to deny him the Republican nomination at the party’s convention in Cleveland, Ohio, in July could lead to violent protests.
“Last week Prince George showed up to our meeting in his bathrobe,” he said. “That was a slap in the face, a breach of protocol.” “I don’t want to spend too much time on The Donald,” he said. “Following your lead, I want to show some restraint because I think we can all agree that, from the start, he’s gotten the appropriate amount of coverage, befitting the seriousness of his candidacy. I hope y’all are proud of yourselves. The guy wanted to give his hotel business a boost and now we’re praying that Cleveland makes it through July.”
The president waxed nostalgic at times. “Eight years ago I said it was time to change the tone of our politics. In hindsight, I clearly should have been more specific.” At that, Obama shook his head slightly and grunted: “Mmm, mmm, mmm. Mmm.”
And he acknowledged that the years had taken their toll. “I’m gray, grizzled ... counting down the days to my death panel.” Trump’s rival Ted Cruz received barbs for his recent reference to a “basketball ring” while campaigning in Indiana. Obama, whose father was Kenyan, said: “What else is in his lexicon? Baseball sticks? Football hats? But, sure, I’m the foreign one.”
Turning serious towards the end of the speech, the president thanked the White House press corps and praised a free press. But Obama’s fellow Democrats were not spared. When Obama hailed Sanders as “the bright new face of the Democratic party”, the white-haired, 74-year-old leftwinger, wearing a lounge suit instead of a tuxedo, rose to acknowledge audience applause. The president said: “I am hurt, though, Bernie, that you’ve been distancing yourself a little from me. I mean, that’s just not something that you do to your comrade.”
“I just have two more words to say: Obama out.” With that, he held out the mic and dropped it, sending Twitter into a frenzy. He then compared Sanders’ slogan, “Feel the Bern”, to an imagined one for Clinton that flashed up on screens: “Trudge up the Hill”, with the image of an “H” pushing a rock up a slope. “You’ve got to admit it though, Hillary trying to appeal to young voters is a little but like your relative who just signed up for Facebook. ‘Dear America, did you get my poke? Is it appearing on your wall? I’m not sure I’m using this right. Love, Aunt Hillary.’ It’s not entirely persuasive.”
Obama took a few hits, too. Preceding his speech was a tongue-in-cheek video tribute to his seven-plus years in office that contained highlights of his verbal gaffes his reference to “57 states” and misspelling ‘rspect” among them. Clinton was also on the receiving end when Obama began his remarks by apologising for being late. He explained: “I was running on CPT, which stands for ‘jokes that white people should not make’” – a reference to a recent sketch by New York mayor Bill de Blasio and Clinton in which she castigated him for endorsing her so late, and he claimed to have been “running on CP time” (“coloured-people time”).
The comedian larry Wilmore followed the president with his own routine and slection of Trump and Cruz jokes. Obama went on: “Here we are, my eighth and final appearance at this unique event and I am excited. If this material works well I’m going to use it at Goldman Sachs next year. Earn me some serious Tubmans,” – references to Clinton’s lucrative speeches on Wall Street and the recent decision to put the founder of the Underground Railroad on the national currency.
He began by saying, “It’s not easy to follow the president.” Then he proved his point, offering a series of jokes about the president, different media organizations and various presidential candidates that often were racially tinged and drew a mixture of laughter and groans. As in past years, Obama made himself the butt of some of jokes, reflecting on the imminent end of his presidency. “I’m grey, grizzled, just counting down the days to my death panel.” He added: “Even some foreign leaders have been looking ahead, anticipating my departure. Last week, Prince George showed up to our meeting in his bathrobe. That was a slap in the face. A clear breach of protocol.”
“Welcome to Negro night,” Wilmore said, and added that Fox News had reported that “two thugs” disrupted an elegant dinner, also mixing in critiques of CNN’s viewership and MSNBC’s firing of black anchors. But he also noted: “In my final year, my approval ratings keep going up. The last time I was this high, I was trying to decide on my major.” He said he and his aides were mystified as to the cause of his popularity, while the video feed cut to a pictures of Cruz and Trump.
Wilmore said the president is showing signs that his time in office has been hard on him. “You came in here looking like Denzel, now you’re going out looking like Grady from ‘Sanford and Son.’” There was also a spoof video, “Couch Commander”, in which Obama and old foe John Boehner, former speaker of the House, united to consider life after leaving office.
He also said that Ted Cruz was less popular than the Zodiac Killer, a reference that drew lots of social media comment. Obama made a glancing reference to TV series Game of Thrones, described British actor Helen Mirren as “awesome” and, in paying tribute to vice-president Joe Biden, took a backwards swipe at George W Bush’s deputy Dick Cheney. “I love Joe Biden, I really do. I want to thank him for his friendship, his counsel, for always giving it to me straight. For not shooting anybody in the face.”
The Washington Hilton ballroom was crowded with celebrities. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders joined vice president Joe Biden, secretary of state John Kerry and other government officials. The president’s speech clearly tickled the audience in the Washington Hilton ballroom that included Biden, John Kerry, Republican party chairman Reince Priebus, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and actors Mirren, Jared Leto, Bryan Cranston, Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, and Tom Hiddleston.
Turning serious at the end, the president thanked the White House correspondents and praised a free press. “I just have two more words to say: Obama out.” With that, he held out the mic and dropped it, just as basketball star Kobe Bryant had recently done at the end of his last game.
Related: President Obama's final White House Correspondents' dinner – as it happenedRelated: President Obama's final White House Correspondents' dinner – as it happened
Trump himself, a regular in recent years, was absent this time, but a son and daughter-in-law, Donald Junior and Vanessa Trump, were spotted on the red carpet. Obama proved a hard act to follow. Comedian Larry Wilmore’s routine had a more mixed reception, with gags about the media prompting groans but other lines hitting the mark. He ended on a poignant and unexpected note. “When I was a kid, I lived in a country where people couldn’t accept a black quarterback,” Wilmore said. “Now think about that. A black man was thought by his mere colour not good enough to lead a football team. And now to live in your time, Mr President, when a black man can lead the entire free world. Words alone do me no justice. So, Mr President, if I’m going to keep it 100.”
Among the film and television performers at the event were Oscar winners Helen Mirren and Jared Leto, Breaking Bad actor Bryan Cranston, Independence Day stars Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum, Spotlight actor Rachel McAdams, and British star Tom Hiddleston. Emma Watson, of Harry Potter fame, and Michelle Dockery, from Downton Abbey, also graced the event. As did model Kendall Jenner and soul legend Aretha Franklin. Wilmore pounded his chest and said: “Yo, Barry, you did it, my nigga!”
The Washington Hilton ballroom was crowded with celebrities. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders joined vice president Joe Biden, secretary of state John Kerry and other government officials.