Actor Joel McHale, star of the NBC series Community, left, first lady Michelle Obama, Patrick Talamantes, CEO of the McClatchy Company, and President Barack Obama stand as the honor guard performs during the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA)
First Lady Michelle Obama was accompanying him to the black tie event.
Joel McHale, star of the NBC series "Community," was signed to be the dinner's featured entertainer. Celebrities attending included Sofia Vergara and the stars of Washington-centric shows like "Veep" and "Scandal."
The dinner has often come at key moments of Obama's presidency. In 2011, Obama showed up the day before special operations troops killed Osama bin Laden. Last year's dinner came nearly two weeks after the deadly Boston Marathon.
This time, the US and Europe are anxiously watching Ukraine and Russia's role in the turbulence in the eastern region of the former Soviet state.
The correspondent's association, which represents the White House press corps, is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Several journalists were to be awarded prizes for their coverage of the presidency and national issues.
Glenn Thrush of Politico and Brianna Keilar of CNN won the Aldo Beckman Award, which recognises excellence in the coverage of the presidency.
Peter Baker of The New York Times and Peter Maer of CBS News won the Merriman Smith Award for deadline coverage.
Megan Twohey of Reuters and a partnership between The Center for Public Integrity's Chris Hamby and ABC News' Matthew Mosk and Brian Ross won the Edgar A. Poe Award for coverage of issues of national significance.
RESULT
U.S. President Barack Obama tells a joke during last year's White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington. Photographer: Pete Marovich/Bloomberg
Watch: President Obama at the 2013 White House ...
President Barack Obama delivers remarks during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., April
White House Correspondents' Dinner: Obama Jokes About ...
White House Correspondents' Dinner: Obama Jokes About President Barack Obama attend the White House Obama attended the yearly dinner which
White House Correspondents' Dinner 2013: Obama ...
President Barack Obama joined celebrities, politicians and media figures Saturday night for the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner. Comedian Conan O
White House Correspondents dinner - Chicago Sun-Times
President Barack Obama scattered the barbs during the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner as he poked fun at White House races past and present
Watch: President Obama at the 2012 White House ...
President Barack Obama attends the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., April 28, 2012.
Pictures: The White House Correspondents' Dinner ...
President Barack Obama speaks during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner April 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. Obama attended the yearly dinner
Obama lampoons Trump, releases 'birth video' at annual dinner
President Barack Obama poked during the annual White House Correspondents dinner, when President John F. Kennedy said he would not attend unless
Obama , O'Brien joke during White House Correspondents ...
KEVIN LAMARQUE/Reuters President Barack Obama smiles during the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington on Saturday night.
A five-course guide to the White House Correspondents ...
Correspondents Dinner is the hottest meal ticket in town but no one goes for the food. There are more important matters to attend to at the annual
