Obama's Red Wedding Joke: Fact Or Fiction?

At the 2016 White House Correspondents' Dinner, President Barack Obama made a joke about the Red Wedding from the popular TV series *Game of Thrones*. Obama, a well-known fan of the show, referenced the infamous Red Wedding scene to poke fun at Republican lawmakers and the Supreme Court nomination process. The joke drew a murmur of reaction from the audience, likely due to its violent association with the fictional Red Wedding event, where the entire Stark family and their army were murdered.

Obama's joke referenced the 'lock them in' part of the Red Wedding

At the 2016 White House Correspondents' Dinner, President Barack Obama made a joke referencing the "Red Wedding" scene from the popular TV show "Game of Thrones". Obama, a self-proclaimed fan of the show, took advantage of the presence of several Republican senators at the event to make a joke about the ongoing issue of the Senate refusing to approve his Supreme Court nominee, Judge Merrick Garland.

Obama said: "They're in the house, which reminds me, security, bar the doors. Judge Merrick Garland come on out. We're going to do this right here, right now. It's like the Red Wedding."

In the context of the show, the Red Wedding refers to a devastating event where Jon Snow's half-brother, Robb Stark, his wife, mother, and his army were slaughtered after being locked in a room and attacked following his uncle's nuptials. While Obama's joke did not suggest any intention of violence, it implied that he was prepared to take extreme measures, Westeros-style, to get his way in the Supreme Court nomination process.

Obama's reference to the "lock them in" part of the Red Wedding highlights the humorous yet pointed nature of his joke. It suggests that he was alluding to physically preventing the Republican senators from leaving until they confirmed his nominee. While the joke may not have elicited uproarious laughter, it certainly left a memorable impression, showcasing Obama's creative use of pop culture references to make a political statement.

The joke was made at the expense of Republican senators

At the 2016 White House Correspondents' Dinner, President Barack Obama made a joke about the "Red Wedding" at the expense of Republican senators. Obama was frustrated with Senate Republicans' refusal to approve his Supreme Court nominee, Judge Merrick Garland, who was selected to fill the seat of the late Justice Antonin Scalia. In his speech, Obama noted the presence of Republican senators Tim Scott and Cory Gardner in the audience and proceeded to jokingly instruct the security personnel to "bar the doors." He then brought up Judge Garland, stating, "We're going to do this right here, right now. It's like the Red Wedding."

The "Red Wedding" reference is a nod to the popular television series "Game of Thrones," of which Obama was a well-known fan. In the context of the show, the Red Wedding was a violent and shocking event where Robb Stark, his wife, mother, and army were slaughtered after being locked in a room following his uncle's wedding. While Obama's joke did not suggest harming the Republican senators, it implied that he wanted to take extreme measures to push through his Supreme Court nomination by preventing their exit until they listened to him.

The joke was met with a murmur of awe rather than uproarious laughter, likely due to its violent association with the Red Wedding. However, it highlighted Obama's creative use of pop culture references to make a political point. Obama's fondness for "Game of Thrones" was further evident as he had received advance copies of the show's sixth season, even before the cast did, showcasing his enthusiasm for the series.

Obama's joke at the White House Correspondents' Dinner was a memorable moment that combined his love for "Game of Thrones" with a subtle dig at the Republican senators' obstruction of his policy attempts, specifically regarding the Supreme Court nomination process. It demonstrated his willingness to use humour and cultural references to address political issues during his presidency.

Obama's joke was a threat to take extreme measures

At the 2016 White House Correspondents' Dinner, President Barack Obama made a joke about the "Red Wedding" from the popular TV show "Game of Thrones". Obama, a well-known fan of the show, referenced the infamous scene in which Walder Frey seals the exits of a room, leading to the murders of the entire Stark family and their army. In his joke, Obama threatened to lock Republican lawmakers in the room and push through the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, saying, "Security, bar the doors! Judge Merrick Garland, we're gonna do this right here, right now. It's like the Red Wedding."

While the joke was met with a murmur of awe rather than laughter, it carried a significant message. Tired of Senate Republicans refusing to approve his Supreme Court nominee, Obama seemed to be suggesting that he was prepared to take extreme measures to get his way. The "Red Wedding" reference, with its connotations of violence and extreme action, served as a metaphor for Obama's frustration and his willingness to take drastic steps to achieve his goals.

Obama's joke can be interpreted as a threat to take matters into his own hands and bypass the usual democratic processes to get Judge Garland confirmed. By alluding to the "Red Wedding," Obama was using dark humour to express his exasperation with political gridlock and his desire to break through the impasse. It was a light-hearted yet pointed way of communicating his determination to push through his agenda, even if it meant taking unconventional or controversial steps.

The joke also highlights the impact of popular culture on political discourse. By invoking a well-known scene from a popular TV show, Obama was able to convey a complex message in a concise and memorable way. This moment demonstrates how political leaders can leverage their knowledge of popular culture to connect with their audience and make their point in a more engaging and accessible manner.

Ultimately, Obama's "Red Wedding" joke serves as a reminder that humour can be a powerful tool in politics. It can be used to make light of serious issues, express frustration, or even deliver veiled threats. While the joke may have been made in jest, it carried a serious underlying message about Obama's willingness to take extreme measures to break the political stalemate and get things done.

The joke alluded to the Red Wedding episode of Game of Thrones

At the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in 2016, President Barack Obama made a joke alluding to the Red Wedding episode of Game of Thrones. The joke was likely a reference to Obama's frustration with Senate Republicans' refusal to approve his Supreme Court nominee, Judge Merrick Garland.

Obama's exact words were:

> "They're in the house, which reminds me, security, bar the doors. Judge Merrick Garland come on out. We're going to do this right here, right now. It's like the Red Wedding."

In the context of the joke, "they" refers to Republican senators Tim Scott and Cory Gardner, who were in attendance at the dinner. By saying "bar the doors," Obama alluded to the Red Wedding episode, in which Walder Frey sealed the exits, trapping the Starks and their army inside a room before they were murdered.

While Obama's joke did not suggest that he wanted to murder the Republicans in the room, it implied that he wanted to prevent them from leaving until they listened to him and confirmed Judge Garland. The joke did not elicit uproarious laughter but rather awed murmurs, as the violent association with the Red Wedding episode may have been considered inappropriate for a political dinner.

Obama's fondness for Game of Thrones is well-known, and he even received advance copies of the sixth season despite the show's media blackout. His joke at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, therefore, did not come as a surprise to many.

Obama received early access to Game of Thrones episodes

At the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in 2016, President Barack Obama made a joke referencing the "Red Wedding" from the popular TV series *Game of Thrones*. Obama was frustrated with Senate Republicans' refusal to approve his Supreme Court nominee, Judge Merrick Garland. In his speech, he noted the presence of several Republican senators in the room and joked about locking them in and confirming his nominee, saying, "It's like the Red Wedding."

Obama's joke alluded to an infamous scene from *Game of Thrones* in which Walder Frey seals the exits of a room during a wedding celebration, leading to the murders of Robb Stark, his wife, mother, and army. While Obama's joke did not suggest harming the Republican lawmakers, it implied that he wanted to prevent them from leaving until they confirmed his nominee. This joke was particularly notable as Obama had received early access to the sixth season of *Game of Thrones*, ahead of even the cast, despite the show's media blackout. Showrunner David Benioff commented on this, saying, "When the commander-in-chief says, 'I want to see advanced episodes,' what are you gonna do?".

Obama's love for *Game of Thrones* was well-known, and his joke at the White House Correspondents' Dinner was a light-hearted way to address the issue of the blocked Supreme Court nomination. The joke drew a murmur of awe from the audience, likely due to its violent association with the Red Wedding. While Obama may have been frustrated with the Senate Republicans, his joke showcased his wit and creativity in addressing a political issue.

Obama's early access to the sixth season of *Game of Thrones* caused a stir among fans, making them feel like "peasants of King's Landing." This privilege allowed him insider knowledge that he referenced in his joke at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. While the joke may have been in poor taste for a political event, it highlighted Obama's passion for the show and his willingness to engage in pop culture references during his presidency.

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