Guest of honour snubs dinner

Trump to give media event a miss – the first president to do so since 1972

WASHINGTON: Donald Trump has ratcheted up his feud with the US media by announcing he will skip the annual correspondents’ dinner, the first US president to do so in 36 years.

By boycotting the event Trump breaks a tradition that began in 1921 in which journalists invite the US president for a light-hearted roast.

“I will not be attending the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner this year.

“Please wish everyone well and have a great evening!” Trump wrote Saturday on Twitter.

The last time a president missed the event was in 1981, when Ronald Reagan was recovering after being shot in an assassination attempt. Reagan however phoned in with friendly remarks.

Richard Nixon, who despised the media, skipped the event in 1972.

Trump frequently blasted the mainstream US press during the election campaign, and as president has intensified his media-bashing.

He ripped the New York Times on yesterday 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.

The Trump White House triggered widespread outrage on Friday by denying access to an off-camera briefing to several major US media, including CNN, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and Politico.

Smaller outlets that have provided favourable coverage of the Trump administration received a green light to attend the briefing by the president’s spokesman Sean Spicer.

The WHCA said it was “protesting strongly” against the decision to selectively deny media access, and would bring it up with the Republican administration.