The annual dinner, an underground gala in Washington’s Hilton hotel, is an opportune time for the aristocrats of journalism to rub shoulders with political nobility and Hollywood socialites. It is also a time for politicians, with the assistance of America's comedic icons, to use the liberal world of media and journalism to "roast" individuals of the opposition.
After weeks of criticism dished out by Trump over the validity of Obama's U.S. citizenship, the President released his apparent long-form birth certificate. Naturally, the flamboyant real estate mogul claimed victory, boasting, "Today I am very proud of myself. I have accomplished something that nobody else has been able to accomplish.… I was just informed [that] our President has finally released a birth certificate."
Trump’s statement would not go unnoticed by the President, especially not with the upcoming correspondents’ dinner — the perfect opportunity to get even with "The Donald."
Obama opened his comedy routine on Saturday by razzing Trump's TV show Celebrity Apprentice, and then proceeded to berate the magnate’s political ambitions, saying he lacked the credentials to be President. He then mocked Trump's claim of triumph over the birth certificate fiasco. "I know that he's taken some flack lately … but no one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The Donald," said the President.
Now that the birther issue has been laid to rest, Obama said Trump "can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter, like — did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?"
Just as Trump was relentless in his obsession to expose Obama's citizenship, the President was on a mission to chastise Trump and "birthers," which he did with humor. "Tonight, for the first time, I am releasing my official birth video," he announced, after which was shown a clip of Simba's birth in the Disney movie The Lion King. Speaking to the "conspiracy theorists" over whether or not he is a natural born U.S. citizen, Obama challenged the birther movement to "Call Disney if you don’t believe me." The President then "reassured" his media archrival: "I want to make clear to the Fox News table — that was a joke."
Trump was not entertained by the inflammatory remarks made at his expense on Saturday night. When asked if he enjoyed the jokes, he replied, "Not really. Some were fun, but not the greatest." Speaking to Fox and Friends on Sunday morning, he said, "Well, I really understood what I was getting into — I didn’t know that I’d be virtually the sole focus, [and] I had no idea it would be to that extent, where you know, it was just joke after joke after joke. It was almost like, is there anyone else they could talk about?"
Some might say Trump deserved his Saturday night lashing. Some also might say Obama’s comedy routine contradicts his own call for sincerity and harmony. "We live in a serious time right now," Obama declared last Wednesday as he released his long-form birth certificate. "We do not have time for this kind of silliness.… We’ve got better stuff to do. I’ve got better stuff to do. We’ve got big problems to solve."
Photo: AP Images
