By Lenny Ann Low
- Beyond glitz of correspondents' dinner, joke is on the American media and people
- Correspondents' dinner: Barack Obama targets Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and himself
US President Barack Obama, gave his eighth, and final, White House Correspondents' Dinner speech. Does he have a future as a stand-up comedian after leaving the Oval Office?
Critics say it is not as funny as his 2011 speech when he addressed Donald Trump's attacks on his citizenship, the billionaire's preference for gaudy architecture and making "the big decisions" on The Apprentice. Trump, who was in the audience, listened stoney-faced as Obama went "a step further" to prove his US nationality by releasing his "official birth video", a clip from The Lion King.
Here are his ten best jokes, rated out of ten:
1. "I know I was a little late tonight. I was running on CPT, which stands for jokes that white people should not make."
Funny man ... Barack Obama enjoyed sending himself up, mocking journalists and roasting Donald Trump and the other candidates at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Credit: AP
8/10
A swipe at Hillary Clinton and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio's use of the term "CP time" (coloured people's time), a joke about the stereotype that African Americans run late or their events start late.
2. "In fact somebody recently said to me, 'Mr. President, you are so yesterday. Justin Trudeau has completely replaced you. He is so handsome and he's so charming. He's the future.' And I said 'Justin, just give it a rest.' I resented that.
7/10
"Obama out": The US President drops the mic to conclude his speech at the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington on Saturday.Credit: AP
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is hot, hot, hot.
3. "But the prospect of leaving the White House is a mixed bag. You might have heard that someone jumped the White House fence last week, but I have to give the Secret Service credit. They found Michelle and brought her back. She's safe back at home now. It's only nine more months, baby. Settle down."
8/10
Obama's wife Michelle Obama and their daughters, Malia and Natasha, are surely scraping their nails at the door.
4. "And yet somehow, despite all this, despite the churn, in my final year my approval ratings keep going up. The last time I was this high I was trying to decide on my major."
7/10
Can you imagine Donald Trump smoking certain things at college? If he was, and he has put it behind him, his hair remains high.
5. "I also would like to acknowledge some of the award-winning reporters that we have with us here tonight. Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Liev Schreiber. Thank you all for everything you have done. I'm just joking. As you know, Spotlight is a film, a movie about investigative journalists with the resources and the autonomy to chase down the truth and hold the powerful accountable. Best fantasy film since Star Wars.
9.5/10
Every journalist loves this joke. It is also not a joke.
6. "Kendall Jenner is also here. And we had a chance to meet her backstage. She seems like a very nice, young woman. I'm not exactly sure what she does, but I'm told that my twitter mentions are about to go through the roof."
8/10
Even the US president is unsure of the purpose of a member of the Kardashian clan. And he has the Secret Service to find out.
7. "Helen Mirren is here tonight. I don't even have a joke here, I just think Helen Mirren is awesome. She's awesome.
8/10
He's right.
8. "Look, I've said how much I admire Hillary's toughness, her smarts, her policy chops, her experience. You've got admit it though, Hillary trying appeal to young voters is a little bit like your relative who just signed up for Facebook. 'Dear America, did you get my poke? Is it appearing on your wall? I'm not sure I'm using this right. Love, Aunt Hillary.' It's not entirely persuasive."
6/10
While many young people do think Clinton is cool, it's funny to hear Obama talking about "my poke".
9. "The Republican establishment is incredulous that he is their most likely nominee. Incredulous. Shocking. 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."
"And there is one area where Donald's experience could be invaluable and that's closing Guantanamo because Trump knows a thing or two about running waterfront properties into the ground. Alright, that is probably enough. I mean I've got more material. No, no, no."
8/10
Not as good his Trump jokes in 2011 but just as spicy to have a red-hot go at the hair-meister
10. "It has been an honour and a privilege to work side by side with you to strengthen our democracy. With that I just have two more words to say: Obama out. [Puts two fingers to his lips. Drops mic].
9.8/10
Perhaps the best, or most poignant joke, as arguably the coolest US president channels basketballer Kobe Bryant's final on-court, mic-drop farewell "Mamba out" .
Scoring 79.3 out of 100 for his top 10 jokes at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, we believe President Obama does have a future as a stand-up comedian. However, it is unlikely that his wife Michelle will let him tour after two busy terms in office.