Trump to attend correspondents’ dinner for first time as president
US President Donald Trump plans to attend the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner for the first time as president, he said on Monday.
Trump has boycotted the event in the past and never appeared as a guest of honor because the press had treated him “extraordinarily poorly” since the start of his first term, he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
However, in honor of the United States’ 250th birthday and “the fact that these ‘correspondents’ now admit that I am truly one of the greatest presidents in the history of our country, the GOAT, according to many,” it would be his honor to accept the invitation, Trump said, using the acronym for “Greatest of All Time.”
Trump “would strive to make this the greatest, hottest, most spectacular dinner of any kind, ever,” he added.
The White House Correspondents Association (WHCA), which represents journalists covering the White House, has held this gala for more than 100 years.
President Weijia Jiang said the association was happy that Trump accepted the invitation and the WHCA looked forward to welcoming him.
Trump’s presence comes against a backdrop of tense relations between the White House and the media.
Last year, a new White House rule restricted journalists’ access to part of its press area, including Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s office, requiring reporters to make appointments for their visits.
Previously, accredited journalists could move freely in the press section. The White House said the measures were necessary because the area is also used for National Security Council communications and may contain classified documents.
The WHCA has criticized the changes, saying they prevent journalists from questioning officials and reduce transparency.
Leavitt has repeatedly accused the press of bias and unfair reporting on the president.
Trump also suggested that media representatives could be moved from the White House to a nearby government building, while the Pentagon also tightened access rules for journalists.
In February, the White House announced it would take control of which media outlets would be selected for press pools covering Trump, a decision that has been in the hands of the independent WHCA since 1914.
The WHCA annual dinner celebrates free speech and freedom of the press and helps fund scholarships for journalists. Previous presidents have normally attended the event.
This year’s dinner will be held April 25 at the Washington Hilton.
