Obama's got jokes: A look back at the president's best punch lines

Obama’s got jokes: A look back at the president’s best punch lines

President Obama delivers jabs at Republicans' expense at the 2015 White House Correspondents' Assn. dinner.

By Colleen Shalby

April 30, 2016 1:55 PM PT

Saturday's White House Correspondents Assn. dinner marks the last time President Obama and Washington's journalists will come together to laugh at each other. Officially, that is.

Take a trip down memory lane to reminisce on some of the 44th president's best dinner party jokes over his two terms in office.

2009, Obama makes his comedy debut

"I have to confess, I really did not want to be here tonight. But I knew I had to come. Just one more problem I’ve inherited from George W. Bush."

2011, Obama addresses the rumors

"Tonight, for the first time, I am releasing my official birth video."

2013, Obama swaps 'Hail to the Chief' for DJ Khaled's 'All I Do Is Win'...

"How you like my new entrance music? Rush Limbaugh, I warned you about this. Second term, baby!"

And gets real about making friends in Congress

"Why don't YOU get a drink with Mitch McConnell?"

2014, Obama gets real about John Boehner

"Orange really is the new black."

2015, Obama opens up about Obamacare...

"We rolled out healthcare.gov. That could have gone better."

And says 'bucket' to everything

"I have something that rhymes with 'bucket list.'"

Staff writer Christi Parsons contributed to this report.

Politics

Colleen Shalby

Colleen Shalby is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. She has covered education, the pandemic, the vaccine rollout and breaking news throughout California. She was part of the team that was a 2020 Pulitzer Prize finalist for coverage of a dive-boat fire off the Santa Barbara coast. Shalby grew up in Southern California and graduated from George Washington University. She previously worked for PBS NewsHour and joined The Times in 2015.