Image Credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images 
As celebrities, journalists, members of Congress and top presidential officials assembled for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on 30 April, back after a two-year hiatus, the POTUS delivered remarks at the Washington event.
Joe Biden appeared to make a self-mocking joke as he addressed an annual black-tie event in Washington on Saturday night.
“Republicans seem to support one fellow … Some guy named Brandon. He’s having a really good year. And I’m kind of happy for him,” joked the US President before a gathering of an estimated 2,600 politicians, journalists and celebrities assembled at the Washington Hilton Hotel for the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) Dinner.
President Biden: “Republican seem to be supporting one fella. His name is BRANDON. He must be having a great year!” pic.twitter.com/wmbQmThQ8r
— Ray [REDACTED] (@RayRedacted) May 1, 2022
POTUS was referring to a saying that went viral and which first originated at a NASCAR race at Talladega Superspeedway, Alabama, on 2 October 2021. At the time, as a sportscaster was interviewing the winning driver, Brandon Brown, the crowd behind him was chanting “F*** Joe Biden”, with the reporter suggesting they were chanting “Let’s go, Brandon” to cheer the driver.
The phrase took off, and ever since has been used as a euphemistic dig at the 79-year-old gaffe-prone President.
Joe Biden offered up several more jokes at the event, headlined by ‘Daily Show’ host Trevor Noah. Making light of his own plunging approval ratings. Biden thanked the “42 percent who actually applauded” as he took the microphone, saying:
“I’m really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans who have a lower approval rating than I have,” he said, in a barb at the press.
Joe Biden:”I am very glad to be in the company of the only group of Americans who have an approval rating even lower than mine,” the American leader said at a media reception at the White House. pic.twitter.com/Y202OukVSt
— Wittgenstein (@backtolife_2022) May 1, 2022
As the President handed the mic over to the host, he told Trevor Noah that he approved of how he once called him “America’s new Dad.”
“Let me tell you something, pal, I’m flattered anybody would call me a new anything,” he said.
The WHCA Dinner, an event dating back to 1921, was the first after a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also, as Biden told the crowd, Saturday marked “the first time a president has attended this dinner in six years.”
“It’s understandable. We had a horrible plague, followed by two years of COVID,” said the President, taking a dig at his predecessor, Donald Trump.
Biden: It’s the first time a president attended this dinner in six years. It’s understandable. We had a horrible plague followed by two years of Covid pic.twitter.com/0U9ln8ZMLw
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 1, 2022
Trump was the only president to snub the gathering while in office, telling reporters in 2019: “The Correspondents’ Dinner is too negative, I like positive things.”
Biden’s full remarks: