WATCH: Pres. Obama drops the mic at end of #WHCD remarks: "Obama out" https://t.co/cpmMPwSnpo
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Obama turns on the funny at White House correspondents' dinner

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Author: AAP,
Publish Date: Sun, 1 May 2016, 5:00PM

UPDATED: 5.47PM US President Barack Obama has drawn plenty of laughs with his barbed remarks at his final White House Correspondents' dinner.

It was his eighth appearance at the event to a room filled with journalists, politicians, and movie and television stars, and his last as president.

He told the Washington Hilton ballroom if his material works well, he'll use it at Goldman Sachs next year.

Referencing his recent meeting with Prince William and Kate in the UK, Obama said it was a slap in the face when Prince George showed up to his meeting in his bathrobe.

To laughter, The President said that being greeted by George in his bathrobe was a slight akin to the Republican leaders no longer answering his phone calls, as he prepares to leave office later this year.

WATCH ABOVE: Obama mic drops to end his speech

The black-tie event, which Obama has previously joked is "a night when Washington celebrates itself."

White House hopeful Bernie Sanders, Vice President Joe Biden and International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde were among the politicos mingling with celebrities, including actress Emma Watson and singer Gladys Knight.

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, who did not attend, could nevertheless once again face the president's barbs.

His eldest sons, Eric and Donald Jr., attended in his place.

Obama speculated about the changes the boisterous billionaire would bring to the White House, including bikini-clad women in the front fountain and gold columns by the entryway.

"The Republican establishment is incredulous [Trump] is the nominee," joked the president during his monologue before 2,600 dinner-goers at the Washington Hilton.

"Incredulous. They say he lacks foreign policy experience. But he's been meeting foreign leaders: Miss Sweden, Miss Argentina, Miss Azerbaijan."

Trump would succeed in closing the federal prison in Guantanamo, Cuba, the president said, "because he knows a thing or two about running waterfront properties into the ground."

Noting that former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg was at the dinner, Obama compared him to Trump, another New York billionaire. Bloomberg "knows policy in depth and he's actually worth the amount of money he says he is," said Obama, drawing ooohs from the crowd.

Turning on himself, Obama said: "I do apologize that I was a little late tonight. I was running on CPT [colored people's time] - which stands for jokes that white people should not make.

He added, "Next year someone else will be standing in this spot. And its anyone's guess who she will be."

Commenting on his family's desire to finally leave the White House after two terms, Obama quipped: "Someone jumped the White House fence last week. But I have to give the Secret Service credit. They found Michelle and brought her back.

"And yet," he added, "somehow despite all the churn, my approval ratings keep going up. The last time I was this high I was trying to decide on my major."

Turning to the contest among those vying to replace him, the president introduced Bernie Sanders.

"Bernie, you look like a million bucks! Or to put it in terms you'll understand: 37,000 donations of $27 each."

He cracked that Sanders's campaign slogan - "Feel the Bern" - was superior to Hillary Clinton's: "Trudge up the Hill."

As for Trump's Republican challengers, Obama noted: "Ted [Cruz] had a tough week. He went to Indiana... and called a basketball hoop a basketball ring. What else is in his lexicon? 'Baseball sticks? Football hats? But sure, I'm the foreign one."

During his two terms in office, Obama has been among the more adept at delivering his comedy monologue, an annual ritual since John F. Kennedy began the tradition at the dinner in 1962.