White House Correspondents' Dinner: Barack Obama roasts Trump, Clinton and Sanders at black-tie event

Barack Obama used his speech at his final White House Correspondents' Association dinner to poke fun at his potential successors. The US president did not hold back as Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Donald Trump were all at the receiving end of jokes at the annual black-tie dinner in Washington on 30 April.

Obama said he was surprised Republican presidential front-runner Trump was not in the audience before roasting his foreign policy experience.

"You have a room full of supporters, celebrities, cameras and he says no," the president said.

"Is this dinner too tacky for the Donald? What could he possibly be doing? Is he at home eating a Trump steak? Tweeting insults to Angela Merkel? What is he doing?

"The Republican establishment is incredulous that he is their most likely nominee. They say Donald lacks foreign policy experience to be president but in fairness, he has spent years meeting with leaders from around the world: Miss Sweden, Miss Argentina, Miss Azerbaijan," he jabbed, referring to Trump's former ownership of the Miss Universe beauty pageant.

'Aunt Hillary'

President Obama also poked fun at the campaigning strategies of Democratic presidential candidates Sanders and Clinton.

"Bernie, you look like a million bucks – or, to put it in terms you will understand, you look like 37,000 donations of $27 each," he said to the Vermont senator, who was the only presidential candidate in attendance at the event. "Bernie's slogan has helped his campaign catch fire among young people: 'Feel the Bern'. Hillary's slogan has not had the same effect," the president continued.

"I have said how much I admire Hillary's toughness, her policy jobs, her experience, but you have to admit it – Hillary trying to appeal to young voters is a little bit like your relative who just signed up for Facebook.

"'Dear America, did you get my poke? Is it appearing on your wall? I am sure I am using this right. Love, Aunt Hillary.' It's not entirely persuasive," the president quipped.

Obama was followed by Larry Wilmore, host of US television's the Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore.

The comedian suggested that next year's White House dinner will be called "Donald Trump presents a luxurious evening paid for by Mexico".

The White House Correspondents' dinner, an annual tradition begun by President Calvin Coolidge in 1924, is attended by journalists, media personalities, celebrities and politicians.