The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is a yearly gathering that honors the essential role of journalists covering the White House. It’s a night when politicians, lawmakers, and reporters from across the spectrum come together to celebrate the media’s contributions. This year, however, the event felt distinctly different, reflecting the current state of affairs. The dinner is typically known for its comedic highlights, with past hosts like Stephen Colbert and Conan O’Brien delivering memorable one-liners. This year’s host, comedian Sam Wells, did not disappoint.
Traditionally, the President attends, taking the jabs with good humor and often delivering his own humorous remarks. This year, however, that tradition was broken as Trump opted not to attend. He is the first President since Ronald Reagan to skip the event, with Reagan’s absence due to recovery from an assassination attempt.
Despite Trump and many of his administration members being absent, Wells carried on with a relentless barrage of well-timed jokes that underscored the importance of the First Amendment. Here are some highlights from his set:
- “You all are Trump’s public enemy number one. It’s journalists, then ISIS, then poorly tied neckties.”
- “It would be an honor to be here, but let’s be honest—it’s really not. No one wanted this gig, so here I am, the immigrant in the spotlight.”
- “We must address the elephant that’s not in the room. The leader of the country is absent, likely because he’s busy in Moscow.”
- “Trump tweets at 3 a.m. sober. Who does that? He does, because in Russia it’s 10 a.m.—business hours!”
- “Betsy DeVos couldn’t join us tonight; she’s busy curating her collection of children’s tears.”
- “Sean Spicer has been doing PR since 1999. After 18 years, his go-to move when faced with tough questions is still denying history. That’s just wild.”
- “Mike Pence wanted to attend, but his wife said no because apparently one of you ladies is ovulating. So…thanks for that, ladies.”
- “This administration deletes history faster than a certain someone when he hears footsteps.”
- “Jeff Sessions couldn’t make it tonight; he’s busy doing a reenactment from before the Civil War. His RSVP just said ‘No!’—and that happens to be his second favorite n-word.”
Wells concluded with a powerful message: “The President didn’t show up because he doesn’t value free speech. The man who tweets every thought that crosses his mind refuses to acknowledge the amendment that allows him to do so. I’m proud that we’re all here tonight to defend that right, even if it’s not something the man in the White House would support.”
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In summary, while the absence of the President marked a significant departure from tradition, the evening remained a celebration of free speech and journalistic integrity, highlighted by sharp humor and poignant moments.