US President Donald Trump is set to attend the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner for the first time since taking office, a move that has triggered boycotts and a petition among journalists and press freedom advocates. The decision comes amid escalating tensions between the Trump administration and the media, with critics arguing that an anti-press figure should not be celebrated at an event honouring press freedom.
According to sources, Trump's presence has rankled many in the journalism community, leading to a letter signed by former journalists including George Washington University professor Frank Sesno, which calls on the WHCA to 'forcefully demonstrate opposition' to Trump's anti-media actions during the dinner. The petition highlights several recent incidents, such as Trump calling a female Bloomberg reporter 'piggy' and threatening to jail reporters who refuse to reveal confidential sources.
The Trump administration has taken unprecedented steps against the press, including an FBI raid on a journalist's home in January 2025 and lawsuits against major outlets like the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and the BBC. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has compared reporters to 'Pharisees' and stripped access for defence journalists, while the White House has cut off access for the Associated Press over a naming dispute.
Frank Sesno described the situation as having 'gotten worse', noting that the administration has 'ratcheted up legal actions' and that attending the dinner without confronting these issues is 'unthinkable'. However, the WHCA has defended its decision, with chair Weijia Jiang stating that the dinner 'reinforces the importance of the First Amendment' and is a reminder of what a free press means to the country.
The event, scheduled for this Saturday, will be Trump's first attendance since 2011, when he was roasted by then-President Barack Obama. The WHCA has historically maintained a working relationship with the White House to facilitate press access, but critics argue that this year's dinner must send a strong message against the administration's attacks on the media.
