Analysis: What to watch during what could be Biden's final White House correspondents' dinner

“Unless a group files for a permit, they kind of just show up,” the spokeswoman said. “Sometimes we can detect protests on social media, if they announce themselves. Otherwise, we work with our partners, both federal and local when they ask for assistance.”

She declined to comment on whether the U.S. Secret Service has formally asked for a bigger MPD presence. A Secret Service spokesperson declined to comment about Saturday’s security plan.

Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, was asked about protests during a Wednesday briefing. But she did not directly comment on the possibility that the areas around the Hilton could look like the protest-riddled college campus in the 1994 film “PCU.”

“So, look, we know it’s an incredibly painful time for many communities. You hear us say that often,” she told reporters. “You have heard us mention the president meeting with different community … leaders and community members, obviously, from the … different communities, obviously, the different groups, to be more [precise], whether it’s Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, Palestinian Americans, to have those difficult conversation[s], to have those honest conversations.”

With the Middle East again a tinderbox, Biden might opt against any quips about the region or pro-Palestinian protesters at home.

‘Fired Gary Busey’

One of the yearly event’s most memorable moments came in 2011, and could provide some guardrails for Biden — and “Dark Brandon.”

Then-President Barack Obama looked out at the black tie audience and saw then-reality television host and businessman Donald Trump, who had spent years raising a ruckus about the Hawaiian-born chief executive’s birth certificate. Obama and his team decided to get even.

“Now, I know that he’s taken some flak lately, but no one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The Donald,” Obama said to laughter. “And that’s because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter — like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?”

Obama also poked fun at Trump on “The Apprentice,” which was an NBC reality show depicting the future president as a business guru judging contestants’ attempts to wow him with their business acumen. Obama pointed to a cooking challenge on one episode.

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