Those who went to the event were required to show proof of vaccination and a negative same-day Covid test. Anthony Fauci, the president’s top science adviser, had been scheduled to attend the dinner as an ABC guest as well but decided against going for fear of Covid spread.

There were widespread expectations that the correspondents’ dinner would worsen the spread of Covid as more than 2,500 attendees crammed into a massive hotel ballroom. “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah, the evening’s comedic host, joked about the likelihood that many in attendance would contract Covid.

“It is my great honor to be speaking tonight at the nation’s most distinguished super-spreader event,” Noah said.

“Like, do you read any of your own newspapers? I mean, I expect this from Sean Hannity. But the rest of you? What are you doing here? You guys spent the last two years telling everyone the importance of wearing masks and avoiding large, indoor gatherings. Then the second someone offers you a free dinner, you all turn into Joe Rogan, huh?”