WASHINGTON—Large protests outside a glitzy roast with President Joe Biden, journalists, politicians, and celebrities on Saturday were sparked by the war in Gaza. However, inside the event, participants barely mentioned the conflict. President Biden used the annual White House correspondents’ dinner to deliver jokes and issue grim warnings about his Republican rival Donald Trump’s attempt to regain the presidency.
Despite the usual focus on political scandals and humor, this year’s event highlighted the challenge of overlooking the upcoming presidential election and global issues such as the situation in the Middle East.
President Biden kicked off the event with light-hearted jabs at former President Donald Trump, referring to him as “sleepy Don.” He then shifted to a serious tone, warning about the potential consequences of another Trump administration.
Addressing the audience, President Biden emphasized the importance of the election, particularly in light of the events of January 6th when supporters of President Trump stormed the Capitol.
President Trump did not attend the dinner, which lasted about 10 minutes and did not touch upon the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
One of the few mentions of the war came from Kelly O’Donnell, the president of the correspondents’ association, who briefly acknowledged the journalists killed in the conflict. The evening also highlighted the challenges faced by journalists globally.
Pro-Palestinian protesters outside the event criticized President Biden’s support for Israel and accused Western media of biased coverage. Inside, guests navigated through the demonstrators to attend the dinner.
The Biden administration’s backing of Israel’s military actions in Gaza has sparked protests on college campuses across the U.S. Counterprotests in support of Israel have also emerged.
The event, attended by nearly 3,000 people, featured celebrities like Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm, and Chris Pine. President Biden and comedian Colin Jost took light-hearted jabs at the age of the presidential candidates.
Law enforcement implemented additional security measures to ensure the safety of attendees. Protest organizers aimed to draw attention to the high number of journalists killed in the conflict.
A preliminary investigation by the Committee to Protect Journalists revealed that nearly 100 journalists have died covering the war in Gaza. Israel has defended its actions, stating that they target terrorists.
Please rewrite the following text:
“The new policy will go into effect starting next month.”
“The implementation of the new policy will begin next month.”
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