Hasan Minhaj Skewered "the Elephant Not in the Room" at the White House Correspondents' Dinner

By Eleanor Sheehan
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The jokes, they just write themselves. At this year's unusual White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 29, host Hasan Minhaj delivered a masterful roast of President Donald Trump, who was not in attendance. Not holding back one iota, Minhaj's speech centered on free speech, and he also managed to land some zingers about America's current cultural climate.

"This event is about celebrating the First Amendment and free speech. Free speech is the foundation of an open and liberal democracy from college campuses to the White House," Minhaj quipped. "Only in America can a first-generation Indian American Muslim kid get on this stage and make fun of the president."

Minhaj's jokes were expertly laden with biting candor. "But the president didn't show up. Because Donald Trump doesn't care about free speech," Minhaj added. After all the jokes were said and done, Minhaj's speech was a memorable moment at a dinner that was atypical because of Trump's absence.

The press were not spared either. Minhaj called out CNN and joked about the media's obsession with Trump's golf outings."Every time Trump goes golfing, the headline should read, 'Trump golfing. Apocalypse delayed. Take the W,'" Minhaj said.

Other highlights included Minhaj's jab at Trump's counselor Kellyanne Conway. "Even if you guys groan, I've already hired Kellyanne Conway," Minhaj said. "She's gonna go on TV Monday and tell everyone I 'killed.' It really doesn't matter."

Perhaps the most memorable line came when Minhaj thanked the organization for inviting him to host. "I'd like to thank Jeff Mason and the White House Correspondents' Association for having me. I would say it is an honor to be here, but that would be an alternative fact. It is not," Minhaj joked. "No one wanted to do this. So of course, it lands in the hands of an immigrant. That's how it always goes down."

Samantha Bee also hosted an event Saturday, the Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner. But Bee's event saw some familiar faces take the stage: crowd favorite Will Ferrell resurfaced his George W. Bush impression, and it did not disappoint.