President Joe Biden found himself at the center of controversy at the recent White House correspondents’ dinner, where he was roasted by comedians and criticized by protesters outside the event.
During his speech, Biden took shots at his predecessor, Donald Trump, but did not mention the ongoing conflict or humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This prompted hundreds of protesters to gather outside the event, accusing U.S. journalists of undercovering the Israel-Hamas war and misrepresenting it.
The demonstrators shouted slogans in support of Palestine and criticized the Biden administration’s support for Israel, prompting Biden’s motorcade to take an alternate route to avoid the crowd.
Inside the event, entertainers such as Colin Jost, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm, and Chris Pine entertained the guests. Kelly O’Donnell, president of the correspondents’ association, highlighted the importance of journalism and mentioned imprisoned journalists.
Meanwhile, protest organizers brought attention to the high number of journalists killed in the conflict in Gaza. The Adalah Justice Project even organized an email campaign targeting media executives attending the event who had previously called for the protection of journalists in Gaza.
Overall, the dinner was a mix of glitz and controversy, with Biden’s roast of Trump overshadowed by the protesters’ accusations of media bias and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. As the event came to a close, the tension between the journalists, protesters, and political figures was palpable, leaving many wondering what the future holds for journalism in the midst of global crises.
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