During the Gridiron Club dinner, a cherished Washington tradition dating back to the 1880s, President Joe Biden humorously touched on the age and mental fitness of former President Donald Trump. Addressing a crowd of over 650 attendees, including prominent figures like Taoiseach of Ireland Leo Varadkar, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, Biden quipped, “One candidate is too old and mentally unfit to be president. The other one is me.” He playfully added that Trump seemed to think he was running against Barack Obama.
Trump’s campaign remained silent in response, though the 77-year-old former president has previously questioned Biden’s mental acuity. Biden, 81, brushed off ongoing criticism regarding his memory and clarity.
This marked Biden’s first attendance at the dinner since taking office, as the 2024 election loomed and anticipation of a rematch between Biden and Trump grew. The event, known for its exchange of humorous jabs between politicians and journalists in a white-tie formal setting, hadn’t seen a sitting president attend in person since Trump in 2018.
Biden emphasized the importance of the press, diverging sharply from Trump’s past statements labeling the media as “the enemy of the people.” He also discussed the conflict in Ukraine alongside Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, asserting solidarity with Ukraine.
Following his speech, Biden mingled with reporters, snapping selfies and even reaching out to one guest’s mother. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer represented the Democratic Party, while Utah Governor Spencer Cox, 48, humorously announced his future presidential candidacy, quipping that he’d wait until 2052 to ensure he’d still be younger than both Biden and Trump.
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