Obama lampoons Trump at White House correspondents dinner
US President Barack Obama has mocked Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump, poking fun at the billionaire businessman for lack of experience in foreign policy.
During the final White House correspondents' dinner on Saturday, Obama took aim at Democrats and Republicans alike, but reserved his sharpest barbs for Trump.
“I am a little hurt he's not here tonight,” Obama said.
“We had so much fun the last time. And it is surprising -- you have a room full of reporters, celebrities, cameras. And he says no. Is this dinner too tacky for the Donald? What could he be possibly doing instead? Eating a Trump Steak? Tweeting out insults to Angela Merkel? What's he doing?” Obama said to cheers from the crowd.
“The Republican establishment is incredulous that he's their most likely nominee,” the president said during the event, which brought together journalists and media moguls with Hollywood stars and power brokers from Capitol Hill and beyond.
“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,” Obama joked, referring to contestants on the Miss Universe pageant that Trump formerly co-owned.
Obama also ridiculed the angst of many in the Republican Party that Trump or Tea Party candidate Ted Cruz could clinch the party's nomination to run in the November 8 presidential election.
“Guests were asked to check whether they wanted steak or fish, but instead a whole bunch of you wrote in Paul Ryan,” Obama said, referring to the top Republican in the House of Representatives.
“That's not an option people,” Obama said, showing comedic chops perfected through seven previous appearances at the annual dinner. “You may not like steak or fish, but that's your choice.”
Obama jokingly predicted the US might be on the verge of its doom.
“The end of the republic has never looked better,” Obama said. “Congratulations on all your success…the Republican party, the nomination process - it's all going great.”
Obama also mocked the Democratic race, pointing to Bernie Sanders, who was attending the event that, “You look like a million bucks. Or to put it in terms you'll understand, you look like 37,000 donations of $27 each.”
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