Trump staff will skip the White House Correspondents' Association dinner out of 'solidarity' with Trump
According to a statement from the WHCA posted to Twitter, the association said it "regrets" the White House's decision and said it has "worked hard to build a constructive relationship with the Trump White House and believe strongly that this goal is possible even with the natural tension between the press and administrations that is a hallmark of a healthy republic."
The WHCA said in the statement that the Trump administration has an open invitation to the event.
The statement, signed by the WHCA president Jeff Mason added:
"Only the White House can speak to the signal it wants to send with this decision. But our signal is clear. We will celebrate the First Amendment on April 29 and look forward to acknowledging the important work of our terrific members."
Trump's announcement to skip the dinner came amid his longstanding acrimony toward reporters. Shortly after his inauguration, he called the press the "enemy of the people."
The annual dinner is usually a chance for a number of mainstream media outlets and to engage with government officials for a night of levity, usually hosted by a comedian. The sitting president traditionally gives a speech at the event.
Trump and several of his adult children have attended the correspondents' dinner in recent years. Former President Barack Obama famously roasted Trump at the event in 2011.