"The End of the Republic Has Never Looked Better" Said Obama. Why? And Why Did People Laugh?

President Barack Obama gave everyone a glimpse into the future during the 2016 White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday. A very funny glimpse, coming from a president who sounded irreverent, cool, and not entirely sad to see his administration coming to an end.

Here are some of Obama’s best predictions for the future:

• “You all look great. The end of the republic has never looked better.”

• “If my material works well, I am going to use it at Goldman Sachs next year, earn me some serious Tubmans.”

• “This time next year, someone else will be standing here in this very spot. And it’s anybody’s guess who she will be.”

• “In just six months, I will be officially a lame duck. Which means Congress will flat-out reject my authority …. It’s not just Congress. Some foreign leaders have been looking ahead, and anticipating my departure. Last week, Prince George showed up to our meeting in his bathrobe. That was a slap in the face. A clear breach of protocol.”

• “The prospect of leaving the White House is a mixed bag. You might have heard that somebody jumped the White House fence last week. I have to give Secret Service credit, though. They found Michelle and brought her back … Only nine more months, baby.”