White House Correspondents' dinner or Stand up night with President Obama?
“Next year this time someone else will be standing here in this very spot and its anyone's guess who she will be," said President Obama.
US President Barack Obama delivered a hilarious final speech at his eighth and last White House Correspondents dinner on Saturday before he steps down as the Commander-in-Chief.
“My eighth and final appearance at this unique event. And I am excited. If this material works well, I’m gonna use it at Goldman Sachs next year. Earn me some serious Tubmans! That’s right.”
He enthralled the audience with quips of how things were slowly but surely changing for him in his last year at the White House – “Prince George showed up to our meeting in his bathrobe; that was a slap in the face; a clear breach of protocol....Even reporters have left me.”
He even hinted at Hilary Clinton taking over as the next President: “Next year, this time, someone else will be standing here in this very spot and its anyone's guess who she will be.”
The highlight of the speech though was what started with, “The end of Republicans never looked better,” which would be one of the several pot shots he will take at Republican candidate Donald Trump in his speech.
“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 in jest.
“And here’s the thing: I haven’t really done anything differently. Even my aides can’t explain the rising poll numbers. What has changed? Nobody can figure it out.” In the background, appeared a picture of Trump and Ted Cruz. “Puzzling!”
Obama said he was a little hurt that Trump couldn't make it to the event. “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?”
Taking another go at Trump he said, “...Mike Bloomberg (Michael Bloomberg), a combative, controversial, New York billionaire is leading the GOP Primary and it’s not you. That has to sting a little bit. Although it’s not an entirely fair comparison, between you and The Donald. After all, Mike was a big city mayor, he knows policy in depth, and he’s actually worth the amount of money that he says he is.”
Obama doesn't spare GOP Chairman Reince Priebus either, who was present at the dinner as well. “Glad to see that you feel you’ve earned a night off. Congratulations on all your success. The Republican party, the nomination process; it’s all going great. Keep it up!”
Taking a jibe at Trump's several marriages, lack of foreign policy experience and failed property businesses, all in one go, he said, “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. There is one area where The Donald’s experience could be useful, and that is closing Guantanamo. Because Donald knows a thing or two about running waterfront properties into the ground.”
Addressing the media and taking a swipe at the sheer amount of press coverage for Trump, he said, “...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 you 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.”
In veiled hit on Republican voters he said, “Just look at the confusion over the invitations to tonight’s dinner. Guests we asked to check if they wanted steak or fish, but instead a whole bunch of your wrote in Paul Ryan. That’s not an option people. Steak or fish. You may not like steak or fish, but that’s your choice.”
On Cruz he said, “And then there’s Ted Cruz. Ted had a tough week. Ted went to Indiana — Hoosier country — stood on a basketball court, and called the hoop a basketball ring. What else is in his lexicon? Baseball sticks? Football hats? But sure, I’m the foreign one.”
Watch full video of US President Barack Obama's speech at White House Correspondent 2016 event
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