Kicker: Presidential Karaoke

NICK EICHER, HOST: In case you missed it: Wednesday night, President Biden hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife for a dinner party. It was an official state dinner marking 70 years of alliance between the U.S. and South Korea.

The menu was an expertly planned mix of Korean and American delicacies, but the entertainment included a surprise performance.

PRESIDENT BIDEN: We know this is, one of your favorite songs, "American Pie."

YOON TRANSLATOR: Yes, that's true.

BIDEN: Well, we wanted to hear you sing it.

This kind of stuff is where Biden really shines. All politics aside, it was a nice moment.

Biden offered the mic to the President, and Yoon hesitated ever so slightly, but then gripped it and immediately you could feel the crowd’s excitement.

YOON: I can't remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride. But something touched me deep inside the day the music died.

Well, to ensure the music didn’t die, Biden presented Yoon with a gift from the singer and songwriter of “American Pie,” Don McLean: a signed acoustic Gibson guitar.

And the audience is already asking for an encore.

BIDEN: Now, the, the, the next state dinner we're gonna have, you're looking at the entertainment.

It’s The World and Everything in It.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.