President Joe Biden used his speech at the White House Correspondents Dinner to call for the release of detained journalists and citizens abroad, highlighting the importance of a free press in a democratic society. Biden emphasized that "journalism is not a crime" and urged countries to release Americans who have been wrongfully detained.
The event was attended by top officials from the Biden administration, including First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff. The dinner also drew a number of high-profile guests from the entertainment industry, such as Chrissy Teigen and John Legend.
Biden's speech touched on a range of topics, including the economy and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, he gave special attention to the issue of Americans being held captive in foreign countries. His remarks came just a month after the arrest of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal correspondent based in Moscow, who was designated by the US as wrongfully detained by Russia.
The US recently imposed new sanctions on groups in Russia and Iran accused of taking Americans hostage, as part of the Biden administration's efforts to prevent future captive-taking and secure the release of currently detained citizens.
The dinner also took place amid a reckoning in the media industry, with recent high-profile terminations, layoffs, and the shutdown of a news organization. The event raises funds for the White House Correspondents' Association scholarship fund and provides an opportunity for journalists and politicians to mingle, as well as featuring a comedian who walks a fine line between jokes and criticism.
This year's dinner featured "Daily Show" correspondent Roy Wood Jr. as the headliner, who took aim at both parties and the media in his criticism of politics in Washington. As Biden stepped away from the podium, Wood quipped about the classified documents found in Biden's Delaware home.
In his speech, Biden also made jokes about his predecessor's scandals, including the alleged hush money scheme that led to former President Donald Trump's indictment. Last year, at his first Correspondents Dinner as president, Biden expressed his desire to move beyond one-liners and wisecracks, which he continued to do this year.
The event was held after Biden signed legislation to end the national emergency for Covid-19. Attendees were required to submit proof of a negative Covid test before the event. Last year's dinner was the first to be held during the Covid-19 pandemic, and Biden was the first president to address the event's attendees in six years, after Trump famously boycotted the event throughout his presidency.