Joe Biden took aim at Donald Trump’s age and legal woes at Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, an event ultimately overshadowed by Israel’s war in Gaza.
“The 2024 election’s in full swing and yes, age is an issue,” Mr Biden said. “I’m a grown man running against a six-year-old.”
The US president has recently ramped up his attacks on Mr Trump, marking a shift in strategy as the November election draws in.
“Age is the only thing we have in common,” Mr Biden, 81, said of Mr Trump, 77. “My vice president actually endorses me,” he said in a swipe at the former vice president Mike Pence’s decision not to back Mr Trump.
The US president also poked fun at Mr Trump’s legal woes – despite forbidding his aides from speaking publicly about his rivals’ trials.
“Donald has had a few tough days lately. You might call it ‘stormy’ weather,” Mr Biden said, referencing the case against Stormy Daniels, who claims to have received a hush-money payment for having sex with Mr Trump in 2006.
The annual event is famous for presidents, journalists and comedians taking outrageous pokes at political scandals and each other, and this year was attended by celebrities including Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm and Chris Pine.
But despite the jest inside the room, the event was overshadowed by the Gaza war, with guests arriving to chants of “Shame on you” by hundreds of protesters.
