Event took place with no Trump, no comedian and notably fewer politicians or Hollywood stars than in past years
Journalists rallied in defence of press freedom on Saturday, insisting they āare not the enemy of the peopleā at a Washington media gala snubbed by Donald Trump.
The White House Correspondentsā Association (WHCA) dinner was a muted affair with no US president, no comedian and notably fewer politicians or Hollywood stars than in past years.
The event took place under the shadow of a second Trump administration that has launched a wave of fresh attacks on freedom of the press, barring the Associated Press from the presidential pool and moving to shut down the Voice of America broadcaster.
In a typical year the president attends the WHCA dinner to congratulate journalists on their work, give a jokey speech and take it on the chin as a comedian jabs at their expense. But Trump, who has branded the media āthe enemy of the peopleā, gave the dinner a wide berth during his first term and stayed away again this time.
Blame Reagan (iirc) for nixing the Fairness Doctrine, which required news to be provided daily, as close to truth as possible, on public broadcast. Reagan really was the shit smear that started this poop bobsled off.