After banning several media entities from the White House press briefing on Friday, Donald Trump’s latest swipe at the news is one that removes him from the picture. The president announced via his personal Twitter account on Saturday that he would be skipping the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, offering no explanation and wishing everyone well on the evening. The event is slated to take place on April 29th and has already a garnered a tepid response from the rest of the media.
I will not be attending the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner this year. Please wish everyone well and have a great evening!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2017
Several organizations, like Bloomberg, The New Yorker, and Vanity Fair according to NBC News, have canceled their parties around the event and others like CNN are reportedly questioning if they should attend at all. Trump’s decision to skip would make him the first president since Reagan to miss the dinner — something he was forced to do after being shot.
White House Correspondents’ Association President Jeff Mason released a statement soon after Trump’s tweet that acknowledged the president’s decision, but also promised that the event would go on as scheduled:
WHCA statement on 2017 White House Correspondents' Dinner pic.twitter.com/mMOXaozwHj
— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) February 25, 2017
The dinner is usually a fun event, with several notable comedians hosting over the years including Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, and Larry Wilmore. Meyers hosting stint in 2011 was memorable thanks to his targeting of Trump, who was in attendance and still apparently holds a grudge according to Entertainment Weekly, saying last year:
“I didn’t like his routine. His was too nasty, out of order,”
Many have already chimed in about the president’s decision, with some feeling glee while others feeling that this is the latest slap in the face from a president who seems to have declared war on the media:
I am outraged that Trump wont attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Bloody rude and cowardly. pic.twitter.com/1GkVgIpvLr
— Zora Suleman (@ZoraSuleman) February 25, 2017
Maybe Trump isn't planning to be president by April 29th, when the White House correspondence dinner is happening
— Roland Scahill (@rolandscahill) February 25, 2017
Wouldn't be shocked if this is a feint and Trump ends up showing up at the White House dinner in the end.
— Adam Nagourney (@adamnagourney) February 25, 2017
Email from a viewer: "PLEASE, please, have Alec Baldwin invited to the White House Correspondents dinner since Trump is not going…"
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 25, 2017
What's a matter!? Can't take a joke/ indictment of your incompetency?
— Kristina Wong 🍆 (@mskristinawong) February 25, 2017
seriously – u need to get help @realDonaldTrump
— ROSIE (@Rosie) February 25, 2017
There goes Scott Baio's best shot at attending the WHCA dinner
— Alex Burns (@alexanderburns) February 25, 2017
Trump to the media: You're not breaking up with me. I'm breaking up with YOU. https://t.co/qza1fAMbTD
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 25, 2017
Is it the part where comedians make fun of the president? Or where they give out scholarships? It's the scholarships, isn't it https://t.co/UgoyQqbCDl
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) February 25, 2017
We’ll have to wait to see if more comes of this. It’s shouldn’t be too surprising given the White House’s insistence that the media is out to get them and reporting “fake news.” Not to mention all the latest Russia news.
(Via NBC News / Entertainment Weekly)