Comedian David Letterman took a swipe at Donald Trump on Sunday night at the Kennedy Center Honors, saying it was nice to see a president in attendance after Trump skipped the event during his tenure.
President Joe Biden, sitting in the presidential box overlooking the ornate theater, received a standing ovation at Letterman's words from the crowd of Washington D.C. social heavy weights.
'It's quite nice once again to see the presidential box being occupied,' Letterman said in opening remarks for the 44th annual show.
The crowd went crazy, applauding wildly for Biden, who was attending with wife Jill, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff.
'And the same with the Oval Office,' Letterman added to laughs when the applause died down.
Biden and Jill's attendance at the Honors on Sunday night marks the first time in four years a president has attended Washington D.C.'s premiere social event after Trump refused to go in the face of criticism from the honorees.
President Trump skipped the Kennedy Center Honors, publicly stating that he wished to avoid marring the celebration with a 'political distraction' after some of the honorees threatened to boycott the awards if Trump attended.
Biden was also the butt of a few jokes.
During the tribute to Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michael, 'Weekend Update' anchor Michael Che said: 'It’s a bit intimidating to do jokes in front of President Joe Biden' and then added: ‘There’s no way he’s still awake right now.'
Biden was shown in his presidential box, awake, laughing and clapping.
'It's a bit intimidating to do jokes in front of the most powerful man in the world,' Jimmy Fallon said during the Michaels' tribute, adding 'and President Biden.'
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attended the Kennedy Center Honors
The Bidens wave to the crowd at the Honors, who gave them a standing ovation
Comedian David Letterman (seen at a White House reception ahead of the Kennedy Center Honors) took a swipe at Donald Trump at the Honors, saying it was nice to see a president in attendance after Trump skipped the event during his tenure
Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff joined the Bidens in the presidential box at the Kennedy Center Honors
Democratic Senator Joe Manchin was in the audience at the Kennedy Center Honors, there were a few Republicans in attendance, including former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao
Actor Dan Levy (left) and Amy Poehler and Fred Armisen at the Kennedy Center Honors
Comedian Jimmy Fallon (left) and Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost at the Honors
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden stand for the national anthem at the 44th Kennedy Center Honors with honorees include Motown Records creator Berry Gordy, "Saturday Night Live" mastermind Lorne Michaels, actress-singer Bette Midler, opera singer Justino Diaz and folk music legend Joni Mitchell
Vice President Kamala Harris applauds President Joe Biden, she sat next to him in the presidential box at the Kennedy Center Honors
Honoree Bette Midler (left) and h onoree Lorne Michaels (right) waves to the crowd during the Kennedy Center Honors
Kennedy Center Honoree Mootown Records founder, songwriter, producer, and director Berry Gordy (left) and Kennedy Center honoree singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell (right) waves to the audience during the Honors Gala
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, speaking to reporters on the red carpet ahead of the show, said it was appropriate for Biden to attend the Honors Gala.
'It's something that should always be the case that the President of the United States would be recognizing the value of the arts,' she said.
She called the arts the 'most unifying force.'
In the taping of the show, which airs on CBS later this month, Letterman remarked it was not a night for politics, even as that topic was the the underlying theme of the evening.
'It's so great to be in the Capitol, but it's not a night for politics,' Letterman said. 'But I will tell you that I'm a bit nervous to be in the company of unequal power. Makes me a little nervous to be in front of that kind of power.'
Then he added: 'Lorne, can I get you anything?' in reference to honoree Lorne Michaels, the creator of Saturday Night Live, who was seated in the presidential box near Biden.
Biden sat in between wife Jill and his running mate Kamala Harris. The rest of the evening's nominees - actress Bette Midler, singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, opera singer Justino Díaz, and Motown producer Berry Gordy - were also seated in the presidential box.
The show opened with cellist Yo-Yo Ma performing a musical rendition of the 'Star Spangled Banner.'
Ma, born in France to Chinese parents and an immigrant to America, touched on politics in his remarks.
The cellist noted that as a child, he performed for Jack and Jackie Kennedy. The Kennedy Center was named in honor of the president after his assignation. Jackie Kennedy, as first lady, was involved in efforts to raise funds for a cultural center in the nation's capitol.
Ma quoted from a speech Kennedy gave in 1963 in Texas, saying: 'Our duty as a party is not to our party alone, but to the nation and indeed, to all mankind. Our duty is not merely the preservation of political power but the preservation of peace and freedom. So let us not be petty without cause so great. Let us not quarrel amongst ourselves when our nation's future is at stake.'
Presidents and first ladies add a dash of glamour to the Kennedy Center Honors, which is also attended by members of Congress, justices of the Supreme Court, Cabinet officials, high-profile members of the media, and senior members of the administration.
The event is typically bipartisan but a few Republicans were spotted in the crowd of people walking into the theatre: former Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, and Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia were among them. Also spotted were Democratic Senators Amy Klobuchar, Joe Manchin, Bob Casey, and Bob Menendez. White House press secretary Jen Psaki was also in attendance as was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts.
With Biden, Pelosi and Roberts attending the Honors gala - each in their own box - the three heads of each of the branches of government were in attendance.
This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, guests at the Honors, including the president and first lady, wore face masks. All attendees had to be vaccinated and have a negative COVID test ahead of the event.
Earlier in the evening, President Biden hosted Kennedy Center Honors honorees for a White House reception where he joked with actor Steve Martin about him being the next to portray the president on Saturday Night Live.
Biden resumed the tradition of hosting a White House reception following a four-year pause in the Trump years.
Actress Bette Midler, singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, opera singer Justino Díaz, Motown producer Berry Gordy and Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels arrived at the White House shortly after 4:00 p.m. for the reception with President Biden, first lady Jill, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff.
