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President Donald Trump plans to skip the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 26, a White House official confirmed to Axios on Monday (April 14).
Trump had previously broken tradition by not attending any of the dinners during his first of two non-consecutive presidential terms between 2017 and 2020. The president's absence comes after White House and conservative groups teased potentially hosting a rival event on the same night, which could possibly celebrate First Lady Melania Trump's birthday, Politico reported.
The White House Correspondents' Dinner is the most high-profile activity hosted by the White House Correspondents' Association and was attended by every president with the exception of Trump since Calvin Coolidge in 1924. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had previously confirmed that she wouldn't attend the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner during a podcast interview last month, which was also re-confirmed by the White House official during the update on Trump's status.
Some correspondents were also reported to have mixed feelings about mingling with members of the Trump administration given his treatment of the press over the years, the Washington Post reported last month. Additionally, comedians will not be performing at the White House Correspondents' Dinner with Amber Ruffin claiming she was dropped form the event due to comments she made about Trump.