President Trump is set to attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner this Saturday, marking his first appearance at the event since he took office and after skipping it last year and during his initial term.
The dinner will take place at the Washington Hilton on April 25th. In a post on Truth Social last month, Trump revealed that he was honored to be named the honoree for this year’s banquet, a tradition that dates back to 1924 with President Calvin Coolidge.
Jiang Weijia, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, expressed satisfaction with Trump’s decision to attend. He stated that for over a century, journalists associated with the White House Correspondents’ Association have enjoyed these evenings with the president, and he looks forward to hosting Trump.
Previously, Trump had opted out of the event, citing hostility from the press. Despite his acceptance of the invitation, many journalists have voiced their concerns, signing an open letter to the Correspondents’ Association that criticizes Trump’s actions against the press and calls for a stronger stance against his perceived threats to press freedoms.
This letter asserts that Trump’s approach has compromised the dinner’s symbolic value as a celebration of press freedom and the First Amendment.
Notable figures who signed the letter include former CBS anchor Dan Rather and former ABC correspondent Sam Donaldson, among others. When asked about the letter, White House Press Secretary drew attention to Trump’s Truth Social post confirming his attendance.
Interestingly, Trump has attended the dinner before—back in 2011, while President Obama was in office. Obama made jokes at Trump’s expense during that event, suggesting changes were on the horizon with Trump in the mix.
It’s worth noting that during his second term, Trump started renovations at the White House, including adding a ballroom and some notable decor changes in the Oval Office.
