The fraught relationship between Trump and "the opposition" has extended to the entire white house staff. In a statement on Tuesday, the Press Secretary, Sean M, Spicer, announced that the entire White House staff would not be attending the annual #Correspondents Dinner. This move represents a gesture of solidarity with President Trump who had announced his decision to miss this year's event earlier this year.
Perhaps, Trump has too many bad memories, got roasted too badly in the past.
Spicer went on to explain: "The staff is standing in solidarity with the president, who has been treated unfairly....We hope, including the president, that things improve and we can attend next year."
The absence of the president, the press secretary, cabinet secretaries, and prominent advisers leaves the organizers of this traditionally popular event in somewhat of a precarious situation. However, when Donald Trump failed to attend last year's event, spirits remained high and Trump jokes were in abundant supply.
No president has missed the #Correspondents Dinner since the 1970s.
The event is an annual coming together of members of the media and politicians and is known for plenty of spirited exchanges, mutual roastings and is considered somewhat of a general acknowledgment that both sides need each other.
The party is off
Reacting to Donald Trump's announcement, the Vanity Fair and The New Yorker both canceled their traditional parties, usually held on the same weekend. This move has been welcomed by those who consider the event just a little too cozy. Politicians and member of the media spend an evening fraternizing and jovially insulting each other which is just a step too far for some of the more serious observers. It remains to be seen whether more social events will fall victim to the bad relationship between Trump and the media.
Trump and the press
Throughout the presidential campaign, Trump's relationship gradually worsened and culminated in banning certain members, including The New York Times, BBC, and CNN from news briefings.Rather than building an amicable relationship with members of the media, he continually discredits the press at every opportunity.
In an effort to bypass journalists, Trump, calling social media a "beautiful thing" still uses his personal twitter account @realDonaldTrump as a platform for his message.
In a candid interview on the Christian Broadcasting Network, Trump emphasized that the 140 characters were more effective than an entire interview with a journalist, and explained: "I can do messages around the media and get my word out, the way I mean my word......."When the media takes my message, knows what my message is, and then writes it purposely so it doesn't sound good, I'd rather do Twitter."
No reason to go to the dinner
It seems Trump and the White House staff don't want to spend an evening with "the enemy".
Reacting to Trump's initial decision not to attend, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, deputy White House press secretary said: "There is no reason for him to go in and sit and pretend like this is going to be just another Saturday night. " Seemingly, the entire White House staff share Trump's sentiments and prefer giving the media the cold shoulder.
Does his bad reputation with the press damage Trump's image?
In a recent Monmouth University poll, 58% of participants stated that Trump's poor relationship with the media has hurt his image and 81% believed his relationship to be the worst any president has ever had with the press.
It will be interesting to see whether Trump will ever attempt to mend fences with the press.