The President of the United States returned to the Kennedy Center Honors celebration on Sunday night after a five-year hiatus, following four years of TFG’s absence and one year of COVID-19’s presence deterring an in-person POTUS attendance for 2020’s celebration.
Twice Biden received a standing ovation when speakers noted the commander-in-chief’s presence.
“Tonight it’s quite nice, very nice, to see the presidential box once again being occupied,” the former “Late Show” host and a frequent critic of Trump said to extended applause for Biden.
“And same with the Oval Office,” Letterman cracked.
Attendees at the 2021 Honors, the Kennedy Center’s prestigious award for “lifetime artistic achievement,” were required to wear face masks and submit both proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test.
This year’s five Honorees were Bette Midler, “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels, Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, Joni Mitchell and opera singer Justino Díaz.
Political and entertainment attendees included VP Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Manchin, Scarlett Johanssen and Colin Jost, Goldie Hawn, Jen Psaki, Elaine Chao, Smokey Robinson, Amy Poehler, Pete and Chasten Buttigieg, Martin Short, Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, Newt Gingrich, Steve Martin, Stevie Wonder, and many others.
Michael Che, in a faux Weekend Update segment honoring Michaels, cracked some jokes.
“This is so nerve-wracking. I haven’t been in D.C. since January 6. It’s not what you think — I needed a new laptop,” Che quipped.
The comedian also took a slight dig at Biden, cracking he was nervous to do jokes in front of the commander in chief.
“I keep having to remind myself there’s no way he’s still awake right now,” Che said, which elicited a grin from Biden.
He whose name shall not be mentioned was never mentioned.