Trump calls WHCD a 'very big, boring bust'
President Trump continued to denigrate the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Sunday morning — calling the gathering a “very big, boring bust.”
Trump fired off a few tweets celebrating the campaign-style rally he held for supporters Saturday night in Michigan, which was organized to coincide with the annual dinner organized by the White House Correspondents’ Association. This was the second consecutive year that the president broke from tradition by skipping the black-tie affair.
Great evening last night in Washington, Michigan. The enthusiasm, knowledge and love in that room was unreal. To the many thousands of people who couldn’t get in, I cherish you….and will be back!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 29, 2018
Comedian Michelle Wolf’s pointed performance elicited fierce reactions from fans and critics. It was variously described as “magnificently funny” and “unnecessarily cruel.” Trump agreed with the latter, calling Wolf a “so-called comedian” and suggesting that Fox News host Greg Gutfeld host next year’s dinner.
While Washington, Michigan, was a big success, Washington, D.C., just didn’t work. Everyone is talking about the fact that the White House Correspondents Dinner was a very big, boring bust…the so-called comedian really “bombed.” @greggutfeld should host next year! @PeteHegseth
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 29, 2018
Most of the criticism directed toward Wolf dealt with her jokes at the expense of conservative women. Many prominent figures, both liberal and conservative, were offended what the “Daily Show” contributor said about White House press secretary Sarah Sanders. Trump, who was famously lampooned at the 2011 dinner by Seth Meyers, sent Sanders to represent the administration in his place. She was seated on the dais throughout Wolf’s performance.
Margaret Talev, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, told Politico that some of Wolf’s material made her feel uncomfortable.
“The association by tradition does not preview or censor the entertainer’s remarks,” Talev said. “Some of them made me uncomfortable and did not embody the spirit of the night. And that is protected by the First Amendment. I appreciated Sarah Sanders for joining us at the head table and her grace through the program.”
Sanders’s father, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, condemned the dinner, claiming it celebrated “bullying, vulgarity, and hate” rather than the First Amendment, as intended.
The WHCD was supposed to celebrate the 1st Amendment. Instead they celebrated bullying, vulgarity, and hate. They got all dressed up so they would look nicer when they had a hired gun savagely attack their guests. Do they really wonder why America has no respect for them? Sad!
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) April 29, 2018
Those who think that the tasteless classless bullying at the WHCD was an example of the 1st Amendment should never condemn bullying,bigoted comments, racist bile or hate speech. People should be free to speak but held accountable for it.
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) April 29, 2018
Huckabee thanked New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman for praising his daughter’s ability to withstand jokes about her looks on national television without walking off stage. He also said he is praying that Sanders’s children never see video of Wolf’s performance and that the White House Correspondents’ Association “never bully another person like that.”
The WHCD was supposed to celebrate the 1st Amendment. Instead they celebrated bullying, vulgarity, and hate. They got all dressed up so they would look nicer when they had a hired gun savagely attack their guests. Do they really wonder why America has no respect for them? Sad!
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) April 29, 2018
Wolf, however, pushed back against the accusation that she was shaming Sanders’s looks. She said the joke about Sanders burning facts and using the ash to create perfect smoky eye makeup was about “her despicable behavior,” not her appearance.
Back in Washington Township, Mich., about 40 miles north of Detroit, Trump railed against his usual targets, including Democrats and the news media. He assured the audience that he would much rather spend Saturday night with his “favorite deplorables” than the press or other politicians.
Read more from Yahoo News:
Scooter Libby prosecutor says Trump’s pardon was a loyalty message to Cohen
Rural districts are the new frontier for women running for office
Photos: Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae-in meet for historic inter-Korean summit
(Cover Photo credit: Paul Sancya/AP)