WASHINGTON: US Presi­dent Donald Trump has decided to not attend the annual White House correspondents’ dinner, indicating his desire to continue his confrontation with mainstream US media which he says spreads ‘fake news’ about him.

By boycotting the event Trump breaks a tradition that began in 1921 in which journalists invite the US president for a light-hearted roast. The first president to attend the event was Calvin Coolidge in 1924.

“I will not be attending the White House Corresp­ondents’ Association dinner this year. Please wish everyone well and have a great evening!” Trump tweeted.

White House Correspon­dents’ Assoc­iation president Jeff Mason responded to Trump’s tweet announcing the dinner would go ahead as scheduled on April 29. “The White House Corresp­ondents’ Association takes note of President Donald Trump’s announcement on Twitter that he does not plan to attend the dinner, which has been and will continue to be a celebration of the First Amendment and the important role played by an independent news media in a healthy republic,” he said in the statement. “We look forward to shining a spotlight at the dinner on some of the best political journalism of the past year and recognising the promising students who represent the next generation of our profession.”

Although the president is the chief guest, the dinner also attracts Holly­wood stars and together they help raise funds for scholarships and awards.

Trump would be the first president in 36 years to skip this decades-old tradition. The last president to miss the dinner was Ronald Reagan in 1981 because he was recovering from an assassin’s bullet that penetrated his left lung. President Reagan, who also had complaints against the media, nevertheless, addressed the participants by telephone from the Camp David presidential retreat, saying: “I’m looking forward to the next news conference. I have so many questions to ask you all.”

But two other presidents — Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon — also skipped the dinner twice each, Carter in 1978 and 1980 and Nixon in 1972 and 1974. And like Trump, Nixon, too, regarded the media as an enemy.

The US media, while reporting Trump’s decision, noted that the dinner provides the president and the journalists with an opportunity to improve their relations. Usually, the president does take on the press but in a light-hearted way and the hosts bring a famous comedian to joke about the president. Trump’s absence, however, may increase the media’s participation in this year’s dinner. Some mainstream news outlets — such as CNN, Bloomberg and Vanity Fair — had reportedly decided not to attend the dinner as they feared their presence could further annoy Trump. They may now reconsider their decision.

AFP adds: Trump ripped The New York Times on Sunday for a television ad that the newspaper will air during the Oscars ceremony stating “The truth is more important now than ever.” “For first time the failing @nytimes will take an ad (a bad one) to help save its failing reputation. Try reporting accurately & fairly!” Trump tweeted.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2017