Washington, DC – After years of shunning the event, President Donald Trump will attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday, marking his first appearance at the annual gala since taking office. The decision ends a prolonged absence that saw Trump skip five previous invitations during his first and second terms.
The dinner, a tradition dating back to 1921, has long been a target of Trump's criticism. He has repeatedly derided the media as "the enemy of the people" and has taken legal action against news organizations. His attendance this year has reignited debate over the event's purpose in an era of heightened tensions between the press and the presidency.
This year's dinner will notably forgo a comedian host, a staple since the 1980s, in favor of mentalist Oz Pearlman. The format change follows years of controversy, including Michelle Wolf's blistering 2018 set that drew backlash from the White House and press corps alike.
Journalist advocacy groups, including the Society of Professional Journalists and the Freedom of the Press Foundation, have urged the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) to send a clear message on press freedom. In an open letter, they cited actions by the Trump administration—such as restricting press pool access, FCC threats against broadcasters, and an FBI raid on a reporter's home—as "the most systematic assault on freedom of the press by a sitting American president."
Some attendees plan to wear pins or handkerchiefs reading "First Amendment" in solidarity. The WHCA has not commented on the letter but has stated the dinner aims to celebrate the role of a free press.
Trump's attendance is not his first at the dinner; he was a private citizen in 2011, where then-President Barack Obama mocked his "birtherism" claims and reality TV career. Aides say that night fueled Trump's 2016 presidential run.
The White House has defended Trump's record, with spokesperson Karoline Leavitt calling him the "most transparent" president and pointing to his impromptu interviews with reporters.