Correspondents Dinner 2013 VIDEO: Presidents Obama's Joke To Jay-Z's 'Open Letter' (WATCH)
President Obama poked fun at the Jay-Z and Beyoncé controversy surrounding their trip to Cuba at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday.
Many wondered if the couple's friendship with the President played a role in securing the trip after Jay-Z responded to the flak by releasing a new tune earlier this month, titled Open Letter.
In the song, Jay-Z raps "boy from the hood but got White House clearance," adding, "Obama said chill, you gonna get me impeached/You don't need this s--t anyway, chill with me on the beach."
The lyrics caused speculation that he personally spoke to the president and that Barack Obama gave him clearance to travel to Havana.
On Saturday, the president responded with a joke during the annual gathering at the White House.
"Some things are beyond my control. For example, this whole controversy about Jay-Z going to Cuba," the president began. "It's unbelievable," he added, "I've got 99 problems and now Jay-Z's one."
Watch President Obama's Jay-Z joke here
Enstars reported that a White House rep denied Obama's involvement in Beyonce and Jay's fifth wedding anniversary trip in Cuba.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney answered questions about Jay-Z's song during a press conference immediately following its release. A reporter asked Carney if the president spoke to the Brooklyn rapper and gave clearance on the couple's trip.
"I guess nothing rhymes with 'Treasury,' " Carney joked. "Because Treasury offers and gives licenses for travel as you know, and the White House has nothing to do with it."
"I am absolutely saying that the White House, from the president on down, had nothing to do with anybody's travel to Cuba," he added. "That is something the Treasury handles. OFAC, Treasury, these are tough words to rhyme. It's a song. The president did not communicate with Jay-Z over this trip."
