The Facts
US Pres. Joe Biden on Saturday made the requisite jokes during his speech at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner, but also struck a solemn tone while speaking about attacks on journalism occurring around the world.
Biden acknowledged the plight of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been imprisoned in Russia since March, and journalist Austin Tice, who hasn’t been reachable since he disappeared at a Syrian checkpoint in 2012.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Biden struck just the right tone during his speech. His jokes hit their targets, and his acknowledgment of the dangers journalists are facing was a breath of fresh air compared to his predecessor, former Pres. Trump, calling the media “the enemy of the people.” Although Biden hasn’t been available to as many White House correspondents as he wished he would be, perhaps this is a step in the direction of more interaction between the president and the press.
Republican narrative
Biden’s speech took the expected cheap shots at his opposition in front of a friendly audience and made light of the serious issues surrounding his age and competence. Considering how he struggled to deliver the jokes, Biden did little to calm people’s worries about his coherence, and it’s obvious we’re headed toward another campaign featuring him staying out of the spotlight as much as possible. The road ahead doesn't look good for Biden.
