Once vibrant, the White House Correspondents’ dinner loses its sparkle
The usually joyous event has shifted to a more serious and cautious atmosphere.
TroibNews 
This year’s White House Correspondents’ weekend appears to be a moment of contrast, likely filled with tension and awkwardness.
Following President Donald Trump’s administration revoking access and suing media outlets over their coverage, the press has adopted a somber and tentative tone. Notably, there will be no comedian at Saturday’s annual dinner, which has been rebranded as a celebration of independence. Trump, who has skipped the event every year during his presidency, will be in Rome on Saturday for Pope Francis's funeral.
For Trump's supporters, this absence reinforces their narrative of opposition to mainstream media, amplifying his populist image—especially impactful given the setting of a service for a prominent religious figure.
However, Trump's trip to Rome presents its own complexities. He will pay respects to a liberal pope who openly criticized Trump’s aggressive deportation policies. Although he may avoid a press corps he perceives as antagonistic, he will be sharing the space with world leaders who have reacted negatively to his tariffs and recent remarks regarding Crimea.
Supporters of Trump believe his attendance at the funeral will provide a noteworthy platform. “The death of the pope, while coincidental timing, only allows Trump to elevate his disdain for the mainstream media,” noted Eric Bolling, a seasoned conservative commentator.
Steve Bannon highlighted the situation as a stark juxtaposition: “President Trump transformed from leader of the Free World to the leader of Christendom while media elites bore themselves at interminable parties."
In response to inquiries, a senior White House official, speaking anonymously, emphasized this duality: “While President Trump is paying respect and inspiring peace under the stained glass of St. Peter’s Basilica, the corporate media is partying in the pews of power—quite literally fiddling away as Rome mourns.”
Trump's relationship with the Correspondents’ Dinner has historically been contentious. During the 2011 event, then-President Barack Obama humorously mocked Trump, suggesting he would “bring some change to the White House” while showcasing a Trump-branded casino, which prompted laughter from the Washington elite. This marked a pivotal moment for Trump, who, according to his longtime adviser Roger Stone, decided that night to run for president.
Throughout his first and now second term, the gap between Trump and the dinner has mirrored his contentious relationship with the media. Traditionally, attendees from the White House, including the president, first lady, and press secretary, join the board of the Correspondents’ Association on stage; however, Trump did not attend during his first term. While some of his aides, including press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, participated early on, they left feeling wounded by sharp comedic critiques.
This year is no different: While Air Force One is set to arrive stateside early Saturday evening, Trump and the first lady plan to spend the night at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, before returning to Washington on Sunday. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated last month that she also would not be attending. Many Republicans, once eager contenders for a spot at the dinner, are now following Trump’s lead in avoiding the event.
Sean Spicer, a former Trump press secretary, remarked, “This has nosedived real quick. The president … didn’t go for four years, so that’s not a huge change. But any Republican will be few and far between.”
This year's dinner occurs amid the Trump administration's overt contempt for the norms upheld by the White House press corps. The White House has taken steps to diminish the authority of the Correspondents’ Association, asserting unilateral control over which media can report on the president. The administration frequently disparages the media with terms like “fake news,” launches personal attacks on journalists, and revokes access as a form of punishment for critical coverage or, in the case of the Associated Press, for not altering how it describes the Gulf of Mexico in its style guide. Moreover, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sought to detain and deport noncitizen legal residents based on their anti-Israel speech.
In light of these tensions, the Correspondents’ Association is promoting this year’s dinner as a celebration of a free and independent press. Its president, former PMG journalist Eugene Daniels, stated in an email to members last month that he was re-envisioning the event and that the board unanimously decided against featuring a comedic headliner after initial pick Amber Ruffin joked that the Trump administration is “kind of a bunch of murderers.”
Daniels explained, “This year is about creating a dinner that matches the mood of our members and changing a few traditions to do so. We feel very good about the experience we’re offering.”
Nevertheless, the Association must navigate a delicate balance: supporting press freedom and recognizing the achievements of reporters while being wary of Trump and his allies who are poised to exploit any perceived missteps as evidence of bias.
“If they get on their high horse about democracy being under attack, I think they’re going to dig in deeper,” observed Spicer. “If they start to talk about Trump and attacks on their profession, it’s just going to further divide.”
This year's press corps also looks distinct, now populated with figures aligned with MAGA ideologies whom the White House has welcomed. Additionally, several alternative events are planned for Saturday, including a “new media party” hosted by Substack and a Bannon-led gathering at Butterworth’s called “the uninvited.”
Meanwhile, Trump is transitioning from one awkward scenario to another, attending the funeral of a pope who once claimed Trump is “not Christian” and who has openly criticized his deportation policies. The pontiff’s last public remarks on Easter condemned “how much contempt is stirred up at times toward the vulnerable, the marginalized and migrants.”
Notably, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former President Joe Biden, who has been a two-time electoral opponent of Trump, will also be attending the funeral.
The White House has indicated that there is a possibility for Trump to meet with other world leaders during his brief time in Rome, but no official announcements have been made to date.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
Following President Donald Trump’s administration revoking access and suing media outlets over their coverage, the press has adopted a somber and tentative tone. Notably, there will be no comedian at Saturday’s annual dinner, which has been rebranded as a celebration of independence. Trump, who has skipped the event every year during his presidency, will be in Rome on Saturday for Pope Francis's funeral.
For Trump's supporters, this absence reinforces their narrative of opposition to mainstream media, amplifying his populist image—especially impactful given the setting of a service for a prominent religious figure.
However, Trump's trip to Rome presents its own complexities. He will pay respects to a liberal pope who openly criticized Trump’s aggressive deportation policies. Although he may avoid a press corps he perceives as antagonistic, he will be sharing the space with world leaders who have reacted negatively to his tariffs and recent remarks regarding Crimea.
Supporters of Trump believe his attendance at the funeral will provide a noteworthy platform. “The death of the pope, while coincidental timing, only allows Trump to elevate his disdain for the mainstream media,” noted Eric Bolling, a seasoned conservative commentator.
Steve Bannon highlighted the situation as a stark juxtaposition: “President Trump transformed from leader of the Free World to the leader of Christendom while media elites bore themselves at interminable parties."
In response to inquiries, a senior White House official, speaking anonymously, emphasized this duality: “While President Trump is paying respect and inspiring peace under the stained glass of St. Peter’s Basilica, the corporate media is partying in the pews of power—quite literally fiddling away as Rome mourns.”
Trump's relationship with the Correspondents’ Dinner has historically been contentious. During the 2011 event, then-President Barack Obama humorously mocked Trump, suggesting he would “bring some change to the White House” while showcasing a Trump-branded casino, which prompted laughter from the Washington elite. This marked a pivotal moment for Trump, who, according to his longtime adviser Roger Stone, decided that night to run for president.
Throughout his first and now second term, the gap between Trump and the dinner has mirrored his contentious relationship with the media. Traditionally, attendees from the White House, including the president, first lady, and press secretary, join the board of the Correspondents’ Association on stage; however, Trump did not attend during his first term. While some of his aides, including press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, participated early on, they left feeling wounded by sharp comedic critiques.
This year is no different: While Air Force One is set to arrive stateside early Saturday evening, Trump and the first lady plan to spend the night at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, before returning to Washington on Sunday. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated last month that she also would not be attending. Many Republicans, once eager contenders for a spot at the dinner, are now following Trump’s lead in avoiding the event.
Sean Spicer, a former Trump press secretary, remarked, “This has nosedived real quick. The president … didn’t go for four years, so that’s not a huge change. But any Republican will be few and far between.”
This year's dinner occurs amid the Trump administration's overt contempt for the norms upheld by the White House press corps. The White House has taken steps to diminish the authority of the Correspondents’ Association, asserting unilateral control over which media can report on the president. The administration frequently disparages the media with terms like “fake news,” launches personal attacks on journalists, and revokes access as a form of punishment for critical coverage or, in the case of the Associated Press, for not altering how it describes the Gulf of Mexico in its style guide. Moreover, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sought to detain and deport noncitizen legal residents based on their anti-Israel speech.
In light of these tensions, the Correspondents’ Association is promoting this year’s dinner as a celebration of a free and independent press. Its president, former PMG journalist Eugene Daniels, stated in an email to members last month that he was re-envisioning the event and that the board unanimously decided against featuring a comedic headliner after initial pick Amber Ruffin joked that the Trump administration is “kind of a bunch of murderers.”
Daniels explained, “This year is about creating a dinner that matches the mood of our members and changing a few traditions to do so. We feel very good about the experience we’re offering.”
Nevertheless, the Association must navigate a delicate balance: supporting press freedom and recognizing the achievements of reporters while being wary of Trump and his allies who are poised to exploit any perceived missteps as evidence of bias.
“If they get on their high horse about democracy being under attack, I think they’re going to dig in deeper,” observed Spicer. “If they start to talk about Trump and attacks on their profession, it’s just going to further divide.”
This year's press corps also looks distinct, now populated with figures aligned with MAGA ideologies whom the White House has welcomed. Additionally, several alternative events are planned for Saturday, including a “new media party” hosted by Substack and a Bannon-led gathering at Butterworth’s called “the uninvited.”
Meanwhile, Trump is transitioning from one awkward scenario to another, attending the funeral of a pope who once claimed Trump is “not Christian” and who has openly criticized his deportation policies. The pontiff’s last public remarks on Easter condemned “how much contempt is stirred up at times toward the vulnerable, the marginalized and migrants.”
Notably, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former President Joe Biden, who has been a two-time electoral opponent of Trump, will also be attending the funeral.
The White House has indicated that there is a possibility for Trump to meet with other world leaders during his brief time in Rome, but no official announcements have been made to date.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
