Members of the head table applaud as Hasan Minhaj, a correspondent with "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah," finishes his performance at the annual dinner.
Members of the head table applaud as Hasan Minhaj, a correspondent with “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah,” finishes his performance at the annual dinner.
WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Indian American comedian Hasan Minhaj sought to use his title as host of this year’s White House Correspodents’ Dinner to make one thing very clear: President Donald Trump’s attendance was not required for him to be roasted.
The event marched on Saturday without the President in the gallery. Instead, President Trump boarded Air Force One en route to Harrisburg, Pa., to surround himself with cheering supporters at a campaign-style rally, not attending the sold-out dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel. Minhaj, the son of immigrant parents from India, welcomed members of the media as “minorities.”
Here are a few of his best moments from Saturday night:
Minhaj recalls false claims that Obama was Muslim
“Who would have thought that, with everything going on in the country now, that a Muslim would be standing on this stage for the 9th year in a row.”
Minhaj pays tribute to master roaster Don Rickles
“I would say it’s an honor to be here, but that would be an alternative fact. It is not. No one wanted to do this so of course it lands in the hands of an immigrant. It’s how it always goes down. No one wanted this gig. No one.
“Don Rickles died just so you wouldn’t ask him to do this gig. R.I.P. to Don Rickles, the only Donald with skin thick enough to take a joke like that.”
President Trump spoke at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg instead of attending the WHCA dinner.
Minhaj wonders who’s really running the United States
“The leader of our country is not here, and that’s because he lives in Moscow. It’s a very long flight. It would be hard for Vlad to make it. It’s a Saturday.”
“As for the other guy, I think he’s in Pennsylvania because he can’t take a joke.”
Minhaj takes a few shots at Trump’s adult children
“For the nine people watching on C-Span, there was also another elephant in the room but Donald Trump Jr. shot it and cut off its tail.”
Minhaj addresses Syria
“Historically, the President usually performs at the correspondents’ dinner, but I think I speak for all of us when I say he’s done far too much bombing this month.”
Minhaj notes that Vice President Pence also skipped the dinner
“Mike Pence wanted to be here tonight, but his wife wouldn’t let him because one of you ladies is ovulating.”
Minhaj unloads on Fox News for employing fired Bill O’Reilly for so long
“You gave him a $25 million severance package, making it the only package that he won’t force a woman to touch.”
Minhaj tells the media to rebuild trust
“We live in a strange time where trust is more important that truth. Supporters of President Trump trust him and I know journalists, you guys, are definitely trying to do good work. I just think that a lot of people don’t trust you right now. Can you blame them?
“Unlike Anderson Cooper’s bone structure, you guys have been far from perfect. Remember election night? That was your Steve Harvey-Miss University moment. The look on your faces at 11 p.m. on election night — it was like walking into Panera Bread and finding out your teacher has a part-time job there.”
Minhaj gives the media more advice
“In the age of Trump, I know that you guys have to be more perfect than ever. Because you guys are how he gets his news. Not from advisers, not from experts, not from experts or intelligence agencies, you guys.
“So that’s why you have to be on your a-game. You have to be twice as good. Because if one of you messes up, he blames your entire group. And now you know what it feels like to be a minority.”
He’s just kidding
“By the way, you guys aren’t really minorities. You’re all really white.”
