In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here.
Heading into this weekend’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, 250-plus alleged journalists signed a letter urging anyone and everyone speaking at the podium at the Washington Hilton to attack President Donald Trump, who is attending for the first time while in office.
Recommended Stories
“There is a long tradition of presidents attending the White House Correspondents Association Dinner,” it reads. “But these are not normal times, and this cannot be business as usual with the press standing up to applaud the man who attacks them on a daily basis.
“We understand that some journalists plan to wear pocket handkerchiefs or lapel pins with the words of the First Amendment,” the letter reads. “And continuing in that spirit, we believe the White House Correspondents Association should take stronger action by issuing — from the podium — a forceful defense of freedom of the press and condemnation of those who threaten that freedom, followed by a standing toast to the First Amendment and a pledge to continue upholding such a critical cornerstone of our democracy. Speak forcefully, in front of the man who seeks to undermine our country’s long tradition of an independent, strong, and free press.”
Signatures of the letter include Dan Rather, the guy who was fired from CBS News more than 20 years ago for attempting to sabotage George W. Bush’s reelection by using fake documents that called into question Bush’s National Guard Service during Vietnam. Former ABC News correspondent Sam Donaldson, former NBC anchor Ann Curry, and former ABC News reporter-turned-Obama official Linda Douglass also signed off.
Of course, if one were to privately poll these 250 journalists, there’s an excellent chance these folks supported Kamala Harris over Trump in the last election. These are the same people who treated former President Barack Obama like a rock star at these dinners. They hooted and hollered after every punchline, especially the ones targeting Trump.
“We all know about your credentials and breadth of experience,” Obama said to Trump in 2011, who had no ability to respond while sitting in the crowd. “For example — no, seriously — just recently, in an episode of Celebrity Apprentice, you didn’t blame Lil Jon or Meatloaf — you fired Gary Busey. And these are the kinds of decisions that would keep me up at night.”
In 2016, Obama kept up the roast. But this time, Trump was the Republican nominee looking to succeed the 44th president and was not in attendance.
“Well let me conclude tonight on a more serious note,” Obama said. “I want to thank the Washington press corps. The free press is central to our democracy and … nah! I’m just kidding! You know I’m gonna talk about Trump! Come on!” he said to cheers.
“And it is surprising: You’ve got a room full of reporters, celebrities, cameras — and he says no,” Obama said. “Is this dinner too tacky for The Donald? What could he possibly be doing instead? Is he at home, eating a Trump steak, tweeting out insults to Angela Merkel? What’s he doing?” he asked as his fan base roared.
“There’s one area where Donald’s experience could be invaluable, and that’s closing Guantanamo. Because Trump knows a thing or two about running waterfront properties into the ground.”
It was then when Obama made his prediction on who would win the 2016 race.
“Next year at this time, someone else will be standing here in this very spot, and it’s anyone’s guess who she will be,” Obama said to loud cheers.
Here’s the rich irony: Obama was no friend to the press. His Department of Justice under Eric Holder literally spied on reporters. It was Obama and Holder who secretly seized phone records from the Associated Press while rejecting more FOIA requests than any administration in history. Yet at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner each year, the reporters at the Washington Hilton gave him a standing ovation.
Former President Joe Biden also received a warm reception despite his utter disdain for the press. It wasn’t so much Biden’s words about the media, which were all boilerplate praise, but his actions, or lack thereof.
Biden took fewer questions from the press than any president in the TV era. During his final year in office, he didn’t hold one formal solo press conference. His vice president, despite running for president twice, never held a solo press conference. And yet, no angry letter came during 12 years of Obama-Biden and Biden-Harris.
These journalists should also take a seat when it comes to lecturing anyone after actively refusing to cover Biden’s obvious mental decline dating back to the 2020 campaign. And now they have the audacity to scream about the First Amendment and a free press? Gimme a break.
Meanwhile, study after study has shown overwhelming negative coverage for Trump, including a Harvard study in 2017 that showed Trump received 93% negative coverage by CNN and NBC. CBS News was 91% negative, while the New York Times and the Washington Post clocked in at 87% and 83% negative, respectively. In contrast, Fox News was the most balanced, with 52% negative coverage and 48% positive.
In Trump’s second term, the first 100 days had also seen profoundly negative coverage, with the Media Research Center showing on average 92% in the wrong direction when looking at ABC, NBC, and CBS News.
Is Trump wrong to use his First Amendment rights to call out newsrooms and outlets that have an outright disdain for him and his polices?
Not one bit. Criticism isn’t a one-way street.
Trump has taken far more questions in five-plus years in office than any president in history. Reporters can routinely get him on the phone for comment, day or night, which is the polar opposite of Biden.
Things will likely get ugly on Saturday night. But there’s a reason why the press is less trusted than gas station sushi these days.
