WASHINGTON — Forget covering protests, some reporters think they should be the ones making the ruckus.
A group of over 250 journalists implored members of the beltway press corps to “forcefully demonstrate opposition” to President Trump at the ritzy White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.
Trump, 79, is set to attend the swanky dinner for the first time in his presidency. But the group of 250 reporters is demanding that the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) ensure he doesn’t feel welcome.
“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,” the letter to members of the WHCA said.
“Speak forcefully, in front of the man who seeks to undermine our country’s long tradition of an independent, strong, and free press.”
The WHCA, which represents the White House press corps, is organizing the annual dinner and has clashed with Trump repeatedly over the past year.
Early last year, the White House press team began meddling in the pool rotation, in which outlets take turns getting special access to the president to share their notes and footage with everyone else.
Historically, the WHCA has set the pool rotation. Notably, the White House has left the WHCA in charge of determining outlet seat locations in the press briefing room.
Prominent veteran journalists such as former CBS News anchor Dan Rather, infamous for the erroneously reporting on President George W. Bush’s military service, and former ABC News anchor Sam Donaldson, signed the missive.
Groups such as the Society of Professional Journalists, Coalition for Women in Journalism, National Association of Black Journalists, Freedom of the Press Foundation, and more signed it as well.
The letter aired out a litany of grievances against Trump, such as his defamation suits against various outlets, alleged favoritism towards conservative media, and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s offensive tactics.
Another complaint was Trump’s decision to pardon Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rioters, which the letter claims sends a “message that attacks on the press will be forgiven.”
They also noted in the letter that many journalists attending the ritzy dinner on Saturday intend to don lapel pins or pocket handkerchiefs emblazoned with the words of the First Amendment as a more low-key protest.
The call for protests comes amid polling pegging trust in the media at all-time lows, particularly among Republican voters. Last year, Gallup found that only 28% of the public has a great or fair amount of trust in mass media.
Last year, the WHCA was pressured to cancel comedian Amber Ruffin, whom it tapped to headline the feted dinner after she publicly called the Trump administration a “bunch of murderers,” and complained about being asked to tone down her material
This year, the WHCA has tapped mentalist Oz Pearlman as the night’s main entertainment instead of a traditional comedian.
The last time Trump attended a White House Correspondents’ Dinner was 2011, when then-President Barack Obama mercilessly roasted him for peddling conspiracy theories about his birth certificate.
“Because the Press was extraordinarily bad to me, FAKE NEWS ALL, right from the beginning of my First Term, I boycotted the event, and never went as Honoree,” Trump explained on Truth Social last month. “However, I look forward to being with everyone this year. Hopefully, it will be something very Special.”
The Post contacted the WHCA for comment. The White House referred The Post to Trump’s Truth Social post last month when asked for comment about the letter.
