Trump jokes about his impeachment, mocks media

Arriving late at the Gridiron Club's white-tie dinner, at which dozens of journalists and politicians gather to trade barbs, Trump said he was late because his son-in-law Jarred Kushner could not get through the security. The security clearance of Kushner was recently downgraded.

Ivanka, you ve got to do something! Trump said. Both Ivanka and Kushner were seated at the head table along with the First Lady.

The president talked about planning his remarks and said he discussed them with the funniest people in the White House, including Vice President Mike Pence. Trump called Pence a good straight man.

He is straight! said Trump.

Trump went on to joke that Pence begins every day asking, Is he impeached yet?

You can t be impeached when there s no crime. Put that down! Trump said.

Noting that Attorney General Jeff Sessions was in attendance, he said he offered to bring Sessions to the dinner.

I offered him a ride over and he recused himself, said Trump. Towards the end of his speech, Trump talked about Deferred Action Against Childhood Arrival. I love the Dreamers. We are going to help the Dreamers, he said.

Trump said we re all working together on DACA. I hope that something s going to happen, he said.

He then went on to mock several media organisations including the failing New York Times and CNN. He said CNN recently lost its very best reporter in former White House strategist Steve Bannon.

He took aim at his favourite target - media - Fake News CNN. He called Fox News the fourth branch of government. And he made fun of Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr, who stepped down in December as publisher of The New York Times, saying: I inherited millions. Arthur inherited billions of dollars, and he turned it into millions. The president also poked fun at Stephen K. Bannon, his former chief strategist, who many inside the White House believe was the source for some of the nastiest parts of the recent book by Michael Wolff.