White House Correspondents’ dinner: Celebs pack out occasion as Biden says he’s ‘working like hell’ to free imprisoned journalists

Joe Biden informed journalists at a glitzy bash that he’s “working like hell” to free their colleagues who’re being held abroad.

It got here as celebs akin to Julia Fox and John Legend gathered on the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, typically seen as an opportunity for politicians and comedians to commerce barbs at one another.

Mr Biden, who introduced not too long ago he was standing once more to be president, spoke to the mother and father of Evan Gershkovich on the occasion – the Wall Street Journal reporter who has been imprisoned in Russia on spying expenses, which he denies.

Some of these in attendance wore “Free Evan” shirts.

Also in attendance was Debra Tice, whose son Austin went lacking in 2012 after disappearing from a test level in Syria whereas working for the Washington Post and CBS.

The authorities has beforehand mentioned it assumes Mr Tice is alive, and is working to carry him dwelling.

“They are among hundreds of journalists around the world who are wrongfully detained for the simple act of doing journalism – which is not a crime,” mentioned Tamara Keith, a White House correspondent for National Public Radio and the affiliation’s president.

Brittney Griner was additionally invited to the occasion, after she was not too long ago launched from Russia detention over a medicine cost.

The basketball participant was despatched again to the US as a part of a prisoner swap, and went to the White House dinner together with her spouse Cherelle, as friends of CBS News.

President Biden was given the prospect to talk on the occasion, utilizing it to focus on the US information media – primarily Fox News.

“Lies told for profit and power. Lies of conspiracy and malice repeated over and over again designed to generate a cycle
of anger and hate and even violence,” he mentioned.

That cycle, Mr Biden added, has led some to ban books, and “the rule of law and our rights and freedoms to be stripped away.”

Zeroing in on what he described as “an extreme press,” Mr Biden on the similar time joked that if he known as Fox News “honest, fair and truthful then I can be sued for defamation”.

He was referring to the $787.5m settlement made between the community and Dominion Voting Systems.

Mr Biden additionally jibed about his predecessor, joking he had been provided $10 to maintain his speech brief.

“That’s a switch – a president being offered hush money,” Mr Biden added.

Other celebrities who attended included Oscar-winning actor Ke Huy Quan, former Olympian-turned politician Caitlin Jenner, and Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs.

Arnold Schwarzenegger opened proceedings with a pre-recorded video about freedom of speech, earlier than the headliner Roy Wood Jr delivered his routine.

In specific, he took purpose at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who’s extensively anticipated to announce a run for the presidency, concerning his ongoing feud with Disney, his e book bans, and White House ambitions.