Video: Obama Swings With Ringing One-Liners At His Last White House Correspondents' Dinner

By R. Siva Kumar - 02 May '16 09:13AM

It was a memorable night peppered with President Obama's potshots at Republicans, the media as well as himself at the final White House Correspondents' Dinner.

As he said: "It is an honor to be here at my last and perhaps the last White House Correspondents' Dinner." It was his eighth and final dinner opportunity to make fun of himself.

Before he left office, he targeted Democrats and Republicans alike.

But the main target of jokes was Donald Trump---who was however not present at the dinner.

Obama said: "The Republican establishment is incredulous that he's their most likely nominee. They say Donald lacks the foreign policy experience to be president. But in fairness he has spent years meeting with leaders from around the world: Miss Sweden, Miss Argentina, Miss Azerbaijan."

He added that Trump would be good at closing Guantanamo because he has experience of "running waterfront properties into the ground."

Moreover, he asked: "Is this dinner too tacky for the Donald? What could he possibly be doing instead? Is he at home eating a Trump steak? Tweeting out insults to Angela Merkel? What's he doing?"

Regarding Britain's Prince George, he said: "Foreign leaders they have been looking ahead, anticipating my departure. Last week, Prince George showed up to our meeting in his bathrobe. That was a slap in the face. A clear breach of protocol."

He took a potshot on Republican candidate Ted Cruz, who had accused Obama of not having been born in the US. "Ted had a tough week. He went to Indiana... stood on a basketball court and called the hoop a basketball ring. What else is in his lexicon? Baseball sticks, football hats, but, sure I'm the foreign one!"

The Republican infighting came in for some more jokes: "The end of the republic has never looked better," Mr. Obama told Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus. "Congratulations on all your success. The Republican party, the nomination process - it's all going great."

He mentioned Canadian PM, Justin Trudeau: "In fact, somebody recently said to me, 'Mr. President, you are so yesterday. Justin Trudeau has completely replaced you. He's so handsome, he's so charming. He's the future.' And I said: 'Justin, just give it a rest.' "

Regarding the Republican race, he said "Eight years ago I said it was time to change the tone of our politics. In hindsight, I clearly should have been more specific."

On his blackness, he said: "While in England, I did have lunch with her Majesty the Queen. Took in a performance of Shakespeare, hit the links with David Cameron. Just in case anybody is still debating if I'm black enough, I think that settles the debate."

He remarked about Joe Biden: "I love Joe Biden. I just want to thank him for being a great friend. For not shooting anybody in the face".

Regarding the Presidential election, he quipped: "Next year someone else will be standing here. It's anyone's guess who she will be."

He mentioned the GOP presidential candidates: "Some candidates aren't polling high enough to qualify for their own joke tonight."

And finally, when he was on his way out, he just quipped: "Obama out." It made him drop his microphone and exit.

The audience followed it with a standing ovation.