Biden quips about Trump’s mental fitness at roast

President also gets serious about threat to democracy.

WASHINGTON — The big news this week, President Joe Biden said at a weekend Washington roast, was that two candidates had clinched their party’s nomination for president. But one was too old, too mentally unfit for the job, he said.

“The other’s me,” Biden quipped.

The digs against Republican Donald Trump kept com- ing from the president at the annual Gridiron Club and Foundation Dinner, as Biden deflected ongoing criticism that his memory is hazy and he appears confused, instead highlighting moments when the 77-year-old Trump has slipped up, too.

“Don’t tell him, he thinks he’s running against Barack Obama, that’s what he said,” said Biden, 81, who also quipped that he was stay- ing up way past his bedtime.

It was the first time Biden has attended the dinner during his presidency, and comes as the 2024 election looms and the rematch between Biden and Trump heats up. The annual baccha- nalia, now in its 139th year, traces its history to 1885 — that was the year President Grover Cleveland refused to attend. Every president since has come to at least one Gridiron.

Biden veered quickly into the somber, though, high- lighting what he sees as a real threat to democracy should Trump — who continues to falsely claim the 2020 election was stolen — return to the White House.

The speech had echoes of Biden’s campaign remarks, criticizing Trump as well as being too soft on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We live in an unprece- dented moment in democ- racy,” he said. “An unprecedented moment for history. Democracy and freedom are literally under attack. Putin’s on the march in Europe. My predecessor bows down to him and says to him, ‘Do whatever the hell you want.’”

Biden then introduced the Ukrainian ambassador, Oksana Markarova, and Esto- nian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.“We will not bow down. They will not bow down, and I will not bow down,” he said.

Biden, in white-tie attire as is the custom, brought his daughter Ashley.

The dinner has a reputa- tion as a night of bipartisan mirth, and was jam-packed with politicians and a who’s- who of Washington, includ- ing Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, at least eight Cabinet members, five members of Congress, five governors and five ambassadors. Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar, in town for St. Patrick’s Day, also attended.

Also speaking at the dinner were Harris, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican.

Two new Gridiron mem- bers were initiated at the din- ner: Tia Mitchell, Washington correspondent for The Atlanta Journal-Constitu- tion, and Jonathan Martin, politics bureau chief and senior political columnist for Politico.

The Gridiron Club and Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides contributions for college scholarships and journalistic organizations. Active membership is lim- ited to 65 Washington-based journalists.

The AJC had another connection to the white-tie event: Editorial cartoon- ist Mike Luckovich, who designed the dinner menu cover, was recognized during the gathering.

Biden closed out the din- ner, speaking about the importance of a free press.

Although he may not agree with everything the news media publishes, he said, he understands the necessity of journalism. He also said he is still working to bring home journalists Evan Gershovich, held in Russia, and Austin Tice, who disappeared during a reporting trip in Syria.

“Good journalism holds a mirror up to society,” he said. “We need you.”

ELLEN SCHMIDT/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL/TNS/FILE President Joe Biden often jokes about criticism of his age, and he continued that tactic Saturday at a roast in Washington.