The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is expected to draw minimal attendance amid journalist fatigue and concerns over President Donald Trump’s hostile relationship with the press, according to Politico.
One anonymous White House reporter said, “Nobody wants this other than Donald Trump,” while another admitted the event was “just exhausting.”
Journalists cited Trump’s frequent attacks on media outlets as a primary reason for skipping the event, including his administration’s issuance of subpoenas to reporters, threats of jail time against journalists, and lawsuits against news organizations.
A prominent veteran journalist told Politico, attendees were “pretty unhappy about being there” due to growing “tension and unease.”
Additional factors include competing personal commitments, such as vacations and family events.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed concerns, attributing absences to scheduling conflicts and claiming Trump’s speech will be “entertaining” and “unifying yet vicious.”
“Leavitt said the speech changed little from the version Trump planned to give in April,” Politico wrote.
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