Elite DC media gives Trump the cold shoulder
In a historic moment, the Gridiron Club broke tradition at its annual dinner by not toasting the sitting president for the first time ever.
TroibNews 
For the first time in the 140-year history of the Gridiron Club Dinner, attendees did not offer the customary toast to the sitting U.S. president. Instead, prominent members of the Washington press corps honored the First Amendment.
This deviation from tradition occurred after President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance chose not to attend, marking a night filled with ominous signs regarding the strained relationship between the Washington media and the Trump administration.
During the annual white-tie dinner, which is off-camera and bipartisan, the atmosphere was notably chilly. The guidance for humor at the event—“singe, not burn”—was overshadowed by the palpable tension.
Gridiron members received applause for expressing their support for the Associated Press, which is currently barred from covering official White House events, and for the Voice of America. The White House recently announced that the Voice of America would be scaled back by executive order to "ensure taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda." Additionally, the White House recently expelled HuffPost from the press pool for an event, and both Reuters and Bloomberg have been forced to share a spot in the press pool. The White House Correspondents Association is facing challenges after the administration took control of the pool.
In the days leading up to the event, it became apparent that the evening would be unlike any in recent memory, as conveyed by two people involved in the planning.
On the Friday prior to the dinner, PBS journalist Judy Woodruff informed club members that there would be no representative from the Trump administration, and the toast would instead be made to the First Amendment.
According to the same two planning sources, both Trump and Vance declined invitations last month.
“Nobody went because either we were busy working or we just don’t care to be recognized by that crowd,” stated a White House official on Sunday morning. A spokesperson for Vance did not respond to a request for comment.
The rejection of the invitation was somewhat mutual. In addition to Trump and Vance, the Gridiron Club extended invitations to Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Communications Director Steven Cheung, and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, among others.
This marked the first time in recent memory that no administration representative attended to speak. Generally, this responsibility falls to the president or vice president. During Trump’s first term, previous speakers included former Vice President Mike Pence in 2017, Trump himself in 2018, senior adviser Ivanka Trump in 2019, and former National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, who was scheduled to appear in 2020 before the event was canceled due to the pandemic.
Trump’s own remarks in 2018 offer a stark contrast to the current situation, when he expressed gratitude to the press: “Thank you for all you do to support and sustain our democracy. I mean that. Some incredible people in the press. Really, I don't get to say it often. But you have some incredible, brilliant, powerful, smart, and fair people in the press. And I want to thank you.”
Last night, that was not the sentiment reflected in the room. While dozens of White House advisers typically gather, only a few attended this year. The event did, however, feature Cabinet secretary HUD Secretary Scott Turner, along with various speakers and lawmakers from both parties, who participated in skits poking fun at Democrats and Republicans, upholding a tradition that dates back to 1885.
To fill the void left by the absence of an administration speaker, Woodruff utilized the Gridiron archives to present a video featuring comments from the last four Republican presidents, including Trump, discussing the importance of a free press in a democracy.
When asked why Turner’s presence was insufficient for a toast, Woodruff explained that while they were "delighted" to have him, he had only confirmed attendance a few days before the dinner and was not there to represent the president.
“At most of the Gridiron Club’s Spring Dinners, the President of the United States has spoken. In some years, the Vice President has filled in, and on occasion a high-level Administration figure,” she said.
“I invited the President, the Vice President, the National Security Adviser, and the Interior Secretary—all declined. I was told the Secretary of State would not be available. To close the evening—when the sitting President usually speaks—we showed video and audio excerpts of the past four Republican presidents, starting with President Trump in 2018. These demonstrated the good humor and fellowship this dinner is all about.”
A spokesperson for HUD stated: "HUD’s mission touches every American, and the mainstream media need to recognize that. Secretary Turner took this opportunity to show up and demonstrate how the administration is committed to reaching the record number of Americans who voted for President Trump, including those who still read mainstream news."
The event featured Rep. Lisa McClain, chair of the House Republican Conference, and Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore as key speakers.
In her address, Woodruff expressed gratitude to her predecessor, the Washington Post’s Dan Balz: “Boy has this city changed. Last year, we were celebrating the accomplishments and leadership of Dan Balz. Today, we’re trying to figure out just how our government came to be run by a 19-year-old who goes by ‘Big Balls,’” a reference to the now-infamous DOGE staffer.
Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll, a friend of Vance’s, walked out during Moore’s jokes, some of which included ribald remarks aimed at Vance. “Speaking of couches,” Moore quipped, referencing Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Oval Office meeting with Trump, Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “I hear JD Vance was supposed to be here tonight. But I heard he pulled out at the last minute.”
A spokesperson for the Army could not provide comment by the time of publication.
The atmosphere at the Grand Hyatt Washington was described by those present as one of the strangest ever experienced at the event.
Throughout the evening, journalists and their guests engaged in uncomfortable conversations about the challenging environment in which they operate, particularly given the restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on media organizations.
This event arrives just weeks ahead of the White House Correspondents Dinner on April 26, an event that Trump notably skipped during his presidency, deviating from the tradition upheld by his predecessors.
Leavitt has already indicated on “The Sean Spicer Show” that she will not be attending the correspondents' dinner.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
This deviation from tradition occurred after President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance chose not to attend, marking a night filled with ominous signs regarding the strained relationship between the Washington media and the Trump administration.
During the annual white-tie dinner, which is off-camera and bipartisan, the atmosphere was notably chilly. The guidance for humor at the event—“singe, not burn”—was overshadowed by the palpable tension.
Gridiron members received applause for expressing their support for the Associated Press, which is currently barred from covering official White House events, and for the Voice of America. The White House recently announced that the Voice of America would be scaled back by executive order to "ensure taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda." Additionally, the White House recently expelled HuffPost from the press pool for an event, and both Reuters and Bloomberg have been forced to share a spot in the press pool. The White House Correspondents Association is facing challenges after the administration took control of the pool.
In the days leading up to the event, it became apparent that the evening would be unlike any in recent memory, as conveyed by two people involved in the planning.
On the Friday prior to the dinner, PBS journalist Judy Woodruff informed club members that there would be no representative from the Trump administration, and the toast would instead be made to the First Amendment.
According to the same two planning sources, both Trump and Vance declined invitations last month.
“Nobody went because either we were busy working or we just don’t care to be recognized by that crowd,” stated a White House official on Sunday morning. A spokesperson for Vance did not respond to a request for comment.
The rejection of the invitation was somewhat mutual. In addition to Trump and Vance, the Gridiron Club extended invitations to Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Communications Director Steven Cheung, and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, among others.
This marked the first time in recent memory that no administration representative attended to speak. Generally, this responsibility falls to the president or vice president. During Trump’s first term, previous speakers included former Vice President Mike Pence in 2017, Trump himself in 2018, senior adviser Ivanka Trump in 2019, and former National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, who was scheduled to appear in 2020 before the event was canceled due to the pandemic.
Trump’s own remarks in 2018 offer a stark contrast to the current situation, when he expressed gratitude to the press: “Thank you for all you do to support and sustain our democracy. I mean that. Some incredible people in the press. Really, I don't get to say it often. But you have some incredible, brilliant, powerful, smart, and fair people in the press. And I want to thank you.”
Last night, that was not the sentiment reflected in the room. While dozens of White House advisers typically gather, only a few attended this year. The event did, however, feature Cabinet secretary HUD Secretary Scott Turner, along with various speakers and lawmakers from both parties, who participated in skits poking fun at Democrats and Republicans, upholding a tradition that dates back to 1885.
To fill the void left by the absence of an administration speaker, Woodruff utilized the Gridiron archives to present a video featuring comments from the last four Republican presidents, including Trump, discussing the importance of a free press in a democracy.
When asked why Turner’s presence was insufficient for a toast, Woodruff explained that while they were "delighted" to have him, he had only confirmed attendance a few days before the dinner and was not there to represent the president.
“At most of the Gridiron Club’s Spring Dinners, the President of the United States has spoken. In some years, the Vice President has filled in, and on occasion a high-level Administration figure,” she said.
“I invited the President, the Vice President, the National Security Adviser, and the Interior Secretary—all declined. I was told the Secretary of State would not be available. To close the evening—when the sitting President usually speaks—we showed video and audio excerpts of the past four Republican presidents, starting with President Trump in 2018. These demonstrated the good humor and fellowship this dinner is all about.”
A spokesperson for HUD stated: "HUD’s mission touches every American, and the mainstream media need to recognize that. Secretary Turner took this opportunity to show up and demonstrate how the administration is committed to reaching the record number of Americans who voted for President Trump, including those who still read mainstream news."
The event featured Rep. Lisa McClain, chair of the House Republican Conference, and Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore as key speakers.
In her address, Woodruff expressed gratitude to her predecessor, the Washington Post’s Dan Balz: “Boy has this city changed. Last year, we were celebrating the accomplishments and leadership of Dan Balz. Today, we’re trying to figure out just how our government came to be run by a 19-year-old who goes by ‘Big Balls,’” a reference to the now-infamous DOGE staffer.
Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll, a friend of Vance’s, walked out during Moore’s jokes, some of which included ribald remarks aimed at Vance. “Speaking of couches,” Moore quipped, referencing Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Oval Office meeting with Trump, Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “I hear JD Vance was supposed to be here tonight. But I heard he pulled out at the last minute.”
A spokesperson for the Army could not provide comment by the time of publication.
The atmosphere at the Grand Hyatt Washington was described by those present as one of the strangest ever experienced at the event.
Throughout the evening, journalists and their guests engaged in uncomfortable conversations about the challenging environment in which they operate, particularly given the restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on media organizations.
This event arrives just weeks ahead of the White House Correspondents Dinner on April 26, an event that Trump notably skipped during his presidency, deviating from the tradition upheld by his predecessors.
Leavitt has already indicated on “The Sean Spicer Show” that she will not be attending the correspondents' dinner.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
