Stars and journalists lose appetite for correspondents' dinner under Trump
The annual event is a chance for politicians and the media to share an evening of good-natured roasting – but this year goodwill is in short supply on both sides
Joanna Walters in New York
@Joannawalters13
Monday 13 February 2017 04.39 EST
The White House correspondents’ dinner is a fixture of the Washington scene, a spring event at which the cream of political journalism shares bonhomie, fine food and comedy roasting with the politicians it reports on – including the president. Under Donald Trump, however, the dinner is facing uncertainty.
Trump, who has repeatedly attacked “the very dishonest press” and accused leading news outlets of peddling “fake news” about him, is expected nonetheless to attend the dinner, at the Washington Hilton on 29 April.
Many news outlets, however, are planning to give the event a miss. The New York Times has not sent journalists to the dinner since 2008. The Guardian, which normally attends, will not be represented there this year. Jeff Mason, a Reuters journalist and president of the WHCA, has been obliged to confirm that the event will happen.
Celebrities are also choosing to spend the night elsewhere. Actors from the casts of TV political drama shows such as House of Cards, Veep and Scandal, for example, have attended in recent years. They are not expected to be present this time. And according to the Hollywood Reporter, the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) has yet to secure a comedy headliner.
More:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/12/white-house-correspondents-dinner-donald-trump
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It'll be GREAT! 