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Annual event featured names largely from the world of journalism and government
The Associated Press
Posted: Apr 29, 2017 8:10 PM ET
Last Updated: Apr 29, 2017 8:10 PM ET
There’s a thinner presence of celebrities and other famous faces at this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
Saturday evening’s red carpet featured boldface names largely from the world of journalism and government. Among the guests are longtime Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward and former secretary of state Madeleine Albright.
The guests arrived at the Washington Hilton as U.S. President Donald Trump was on his way to his own competing rally-style event in Pennsylvania. He is the first president to skip the event in decades.
With Trump’s absence, WHCA dinner organizers say they’re putting the focus on the First Amendment and the role of the press in a democracy.
I will not be attending the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner this year. Please wish everyone well and have a great evening!
The correspondents’ group, as usual, booked a master of ceremonies: Hasan Minhaj of The Daily Show.
The annual dinner began in 1921, and last year, for president Barack Obama’s final appearance, the crowd included Will Smith, Emma Watson, Kerry Washington, Helen Mirren and model Kendall Jenner.
Also on Saturday, late-night TV star Samantha Bee was pulling in celebrities for the first Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner — a tongue-in-cheek play on the real bash.
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