'Obama out': President has last laugh at his final Washington press corps dinner
Even though US President Barack Obama and his wife can't wait to get out of the White House, being a lame duck can hurt a guy.
The president took his last opportunity to address the Washington DC press core in the annual White House Correspondence Dinner - a formal affair for politicians and journalists often referred to as the "nerd prom".
The president shared the stage with host Larry Whilmore - a fellow African American who made light of their shared ethnicity.
"Welcome to 'Negro Night' here… Or as Fox News would report: 'Two thugs disrupt elegant dinner in DC,'" Wilmore began.
The comedian reflected the historical implications of the Obama presidency and how in Wilmore's lifetime America had moved from a country in which a black man was thought "by his mere colour, not good enough to lead a football team".
"And now to live in your time, Mr President, when a black man can lead the entire free world," Wilmore said to a round of applause.
Wilmore finished up by thumping his chest in respect and saying: "Yo Barry, you did it my n***r. You did it."
President Obama smiled, returned the gesture, and took the stage for his final comedic address to the dinner before he leaves office.
"Last week Prince George showed up to our meeting in his bathrobe," Obama cracked at the White House Correspondents' dinner on Saturday night.
"That was a slap in the face."
Obama drew plenty of laughs with his barbed remarks to a ballroom filled with journalists, politicians, and movie and television stars.
It was his eighth appearance at the event and his last as president. TV host Larry Wilmore provided the professional comedy for the evening.
"If this material works well, I'm going to use it at Goldman Sachs next year," Obama said.
"Earn me some serious Tubmans."
The president waxed nostalgic at times.
"Eight years ago I said it was time to change the tone of our politics. In hindsight, I clearly should have been more specific."
And he acknowledged that the years had taken their toll. "I'm grey, grizzled ... counting down the days to my death panel."
Turning serious at the end of his remarks, the president thanked the White House press corps and praised a free press.
"I just have two more words to say: Obama out."
With that, he held out the mic and dropped it.
As usual the Washington Hilton ballroom was a celebrity-spotters dream. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders joined Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and other government officials taking a seat.
Also on hand were Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, a regular in recent years, was absent this time, but a son and daughter-in-law, Donald Jr and Vanessa Trump, were spotted on the red carpet.
Among the film and television performers at the event were Oscar winners Helen Mirren and Jared Leto, Breaking Bad actor Bryan Cranston, Independence Day stars Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum and actress Rachel McAdams.
