Thread by @W7VOA

Highlights now coming through via radio pooler @stevenportnoy of @POTUS remarks at #gridirondinner. He joked his staff was concerned he couldn’t do self deprecating humor. "I told them not to worry. Nobody does self deprecating humor better than I do."

On @VP: "I reallly am very proud to call him The Apprentice. But lately he’s showing a particularly keen interest in the news these days. He is asking has he been impeached yet? I don’t like that."

"Mike, you can’t be impeached when there’s no crime. I thought that was going to get a much better laugh. Melania said use it, it’s good."

At #gridirondinner, @POTUS jokes he offered @jeffsessions a ride over tonight "and he recused himself!"

"And it’s been a very tough year for CNN. They’ve lost a tremendous amount of credibility this year. And your best reporter, Steve Bannon. That guy leaked more than the Titanic. Boy did he leak."

"So many people have been leaving the White House. It’s invigorating since you want turnover. I like chaos. It really is good. Who’s going to be the next to leave? Steve Miller, or Melania?"

According to print pooler @hunterw, on North Korea @POTUS quipped that he would not rule out direct talks with Kim Jong Un. However, he said, it was Kim who faced “the risk of dealing with a madman.”

And @POTUS also said North Korea had “called up” and asked to begin talks, but that he responded with “you have to denuke” first."

At #gridirondinner @POTUS jokes that @FLOTUS is getting benefits from #TaxReform. "She can finally claim me as an adult dependent."

More @POTUS jokes from the dinner: @NancyPelosi is worth tens of millions of dollars and she’s a populist. "I tell her you can’t be a true populist unless you’re worth ten million dollars."

Comments about @JoeBiden a bit more pointed, saying in a general election matchup, "Trust me, I would kick his ass. Boy would that be easy."

As to #Twitter, @POTUS jokes it's an important form of communication, otherwise how could generals Kelly and McMaster know what they’re supposed to say that day.

At #gridirondinner @POTUS wrapped up by thanking the press for all it does "to support and sustain our democracy. I mean that," adding it includes people who are powerful, brilliant, smart and fair.

More excerpts from @hunterw: @POTUS also mocked @Oprah and @SenWarren, again calling her “Pocahontas” and quipped she suggested he and Rex Tillerson should smoke a “peace pipe” with the Koreans. Trump accused @RepAdamSchiff of leaking to the press about the #Russia probe.

More from @AP: apnews.com/d22f9edbb9664d…

Complete #DPRK-related comments by @POTUS at last night's #GridironDinner.