The White House Correspondents' Dinner will definitely have a different tone than in years past, but one thing is certain — there will be no lack of political humor (and probably a few jokes at the President's expense). Long time "The Daily Show" correspondent Hasan Minhaj has been brought in to play host for the evening.
Trump and staff to boycott Dinner
A few short weeks after being sworn in as President, Donald Trump announced via Twitter that he will not be attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner, an event that traditionally roasts the sitting President and other high-profile Washington leaders.
While the news came as a shock at the time, Trump's adversarial position toward much of the media covering his White House, like the major media outlets he has excluded from briefings, has shown quite clearly why he would be uncomfortable attending such an evening. At the end of March, White House spokesperson Sean Spicer announced that Trump's entire team will be boycotting the dinner in "solidarity" with the President.
I will not be attending the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner this year. Please wish everyone well and have a great evening!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2017
It is believed that Trump will be the first sitting President since the 1970s to miss the event, and this will mark the first time no one from the White House staff has been in attendance.
In past years, news networks have invited A-list celebrities to attend the dinner, tying the event to sponsored parties elsewhere in Washington, such as huge bash put on by Vanity Fair. E! has even been known to cover the event's red carpet entryway. This year, major networks like CNN will reportedly be taking a more dignified approach by inviting journalism students to enjoy the festivities.
Difficult to find host with Trump Presidency
Even though the President will not to be in attendance, the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) ran into trouble when trying to book a host for their event. It has been reported that major comedians like "The Late Late Show"'s James Corden turned down the invitation to perform, and the announcement of Minhaj as host comes a quick three weeks before the event itself.
Although Minhaj may not have been the WHCA's first choice, he may be a perfect fit in such a politically-charged year. An American-born Muslim, he has been skewering the issue of race and politics on "The Daily Show" since 2014 where he gained notoriety in viral clips during Trump's Presidential bid. He has brought a much-needed different perspective to a mostly-white late night slate, and it will be interesting to see what he will do in a room filled with mostly-white network journalists.
