The White House Correspondents Association dinner, an annual event that brings together politicians, media figures, and Hollywood celebrities to celebrate free speech and a free press, took place on Saturday with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in attendance.

The event features a comedian’s performance, which often includes jokes directed at the president and the journalists who cover him. This year, “Daily Show” correspondent Roy Wood Jr. performed at the event.

The dinner has become a landmark event in Washington’s social calendar, but it had started to fade, as it was boycotted by former President Donald Trump and then cancelled last year due to Covid-19 restrictions.

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However, this year’s event was said to be “completely sold out,” with hundreds of people being turned away after tickets ran out. White House Correspondents Association President Tamara Keith, a correspondent for NPR radio, said that people were eager to attend, following a year of strict Covid testing, frequent use of masks, and limited social activities.

Biden, who is facing criticism from the media and the public, took the opportunity to showcase his ability to handle criticism and participate in the event, which has now become a tradition.

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With less than half the country approving of the Democrat, the event was a chance for him to show that he can take the heat and to respond to criticisms with humor. The occasion is meant to celebrate the constitution’s First Amendment guaranteeing free speech and a free press. The jokes tend to get the headlines, but the event also serves to reinforce the important role of the press in American democracy.