President Joe Biden used his bully pulpit at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner to warn journalists about the risks and dangers posed by “disinformation” — and spread a little disinformation of his own in the process.
During his brief remarks at Sunday evening’s dinner, Biden framed the 2024 presidential race as a choice that would determine whether democracy was “still the sacred cause of America,” suggesting that the answer to that question was no unless the people reelected him.
Biden went on to say that unless the people had the right information, they couldn’t make the right decision — and he called on journalists to “rise up to the seriousness” of the situation.
WATCH:
Biden again calls on journalists to defend democracy (i.e. crush Republicans):
“Move past the horse race numbers and the gotcha moments, and the distractions, the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensationalize our politics and focusing on what’s actually at stake. I… pic.twitter.com/bdGSSCTgUr
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) April 28, 2024
“On the third anniversary of January 6, I went to Valley Forge and I said the most urgent question of our time is whether democracy is still — is still the sacred cause of America. That is the question the American people must answer this year and you, the free press, play a critical role in making sure the American people have the information they need to make an informed decision,” Biden began.
Biden then turned to attack former President Donald Trump, delivering a series of partial truths and out-of-context quotes.
“The defeated former President has made no secret of his attack on our democracy he said he wants to be a dictator on day one and so much more. He tells supporters he is the revenge and retribution. When in God’s name ever heard of another president say something like that? And he promised a bloodbath when he loses again,” Biden said.
He then pivoted back to the press, claiming that he was not asking them to “take sides” while pressing them to push back against Trump: “We have to take this seriously. Eight years ago, it could have been written off as just Trump talk but no longer, not after January 6. I’m sincerely not asking you to take sides, but asking a rise up to the seriousness of the moment.”
“Move past the horse race numbers and the gotcha moments, and the distractions, the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensationalize our politics and focusing on what’s actually at stake,” the president continued. “I think in your hearts, you know what’s at stake. The stakes couldn’t be higher every single one of us has roles to play — a serious role, to play in making sure democracy endures, American democracy. I have my role, but with all due respect, so do you. In the age of disinformation, credible information that people can trust is more important than ever and that makes you, and I mean this with the bottom of my heart, makes you more important than ever. So tonight, I’d like to make a toast — to a free press, to an informed citizenry, to an American where freedom and democracy endure. God bless America.”
