Silence Greets Trump Jokes to ‘People I Hate’ at DC Dinner

President Trump blended roast-style humor with grievances and policy remarks at Washington’s Alfalfa Club dinner on Saturday night, according to attendees, at times drawing quiet reactions from the audience of political and business leaders.

Speaking at the closed, bipartisan, black-tie event after a week marked by several major national headlines, the president opened by noting the crowd included both “people I hate” and people he likes. Throughout the evening, he poked fun at critics, mentioned possible lawsuits, and joked that he might have to leave early to watch the “invasion of Greenland.”

He quickly clarified the remark as a joke. “We’re not going to invade Greenland,” Trump said. “We’re going to buy it.” He went on to quip that Canada, Greenland, and Venezuela could become future states. He also revived his “Pocahontas” nickname for Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren and suggested that Jill Biden is effectively serving as president, a line that reportedly drew limited laughter.

Referring to Kevin Warsh, his nominee to lead the Federal Reserve, Trump joked that if interest rates are not cut, he might sue him.

Later, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump described his comments as part of a roast. “It’s a roast,” he said, according to the Wall Street Journal, adding that he did not require Warsh to promise rate cuts before nominating him.

Members of the Alfalfa Club include several figures with whom Trump has had past conflicts, including individuals he has fired, sued, or criticized, such as JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, former Kennedy Center chief David Rubenstein, and outgoing Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Trump also singled out former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney during his remarks, calling him a left-winger, a comment that attendees said prompted applause.

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