. . . "President Donald Trump announced several weeks ago that he would not appear at the annual event — which technically raises money for journalism scholarships and awards achievements in covering White House-specific events — for the third year in a row. For the first time, however, the president said all senior members of the White House staff will "boycott" the event.
"White House officials, including press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, instead appeared alongside the president at a rally Saturday night.
"That decision came after Huckabee Sanders endured cruel taunts at the hands of last year's featured speaker, comedian Michelle Wolf. Fearing no Trump administration associate could show up at the WHCA dinner without being personally attacked, despite a longstanding tradition of good-natured ribbing between the press and the president through dueling speeches, the White House simply stopped RSVPing to the event.
"The White House Correspondents' Association responded by making swift changes to the event's lineup, substituting historian Ron Chernow for the expected comedy act, but it did not tempt the White House back to the dinner." . . .
"White House officials, including press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, instead appeared alongside the president at a rally Saturday night.
"That decision came after Huckabee Sanders endured cruel taunts at the hands of last year's featured speaker, comedian Michelle Wolf. Fearing no Trump administration associate could show up at the WHCA dinner without being personally attacked, despite a longstanding tradition of good-natured ribbing between the press and the president through dueling speeches, the White House simply stopped RSVPing to the event.
"The White House Correspondents' Association responded by making swift changes to the event's lineup, substituting historian Ron Chernow for the expected comedy act, but it did not tempt the White House back to the dinner." . . .