The reference to the 2024 presidential election wasn’t all that suggestive: Joe Biden, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House honoring, among others, songwriter and rock performer Bruce Springsteen and actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, he joked about his intention to win “twice” as well.

The President of the United States on Tuesday honored various personalities of entertainment, fashion and culture, awarding the “National Medal of Arts” and the “National Medal of Classical Studies”.

Among the honorees was the African-American author Colson Whitehead, and Mr. Biden, in a visibly good mood, reminded those present that the writer is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, for his novels Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys.

“I’m going to try to win twice, too,” the 80-year-old Democrat quipped, drawing laughs and cheers.

So far, Mr. Biden insists on saying that he “intends” to run for re-election in 2024, though he has not yet officially started a campaign.

The US president also honored Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the no-holds-barred vice president on the scathing comedy TV series “Veep,” the “Boss,” as many call the rock icon Bruce Springsteen, fashion designer Vera Wang, the “Empress of soul” Gladys Knight…

Bruce Springsteen’s music “celebrates our triumphs, heals our wounds, gives us hope. He captures the indomitable spirit of what it means to be American,” the White House explained, referring to the “Born in the USA” singer.

Addressing the rock legend, who went to accept the medal in a suit and tie, Joe Biden made another half-joking, half-serious reference to his intention to run for office. “Bruce, there are some born to run, man,” he said, using the title of his well-known song “Born to run.”

The pun was based on the ambiguity of the verb “run”: in addition to “to run”, it also means that someone is running for election.

Addressing the honorees, who also included author Anne Patchett, Indigenous academic and activist Henrietta Mann, historian and biographer Walter Isaacson and others, President Biden closed the ceremony by saying, “You are incredible. You make this country better.”