No eggnog for you!
President Trump has added a special holiday spin to his ongoing conflict with his antagonists in the news media by canceling the annual White House Christmas Party for members of the press, Fox News reported. While the President and First Lady Melania Trump participated in the swank swoiree last year (though they opted out of the tradition of posing for photos), they’ve decided to skip it in 2019.
This isn’t the first time Trump has snubbed the press. Since taking office, he has skipped the White House Correspondents Dinner (and reportedly won’t attend the upcoming gathering in February, even after the WHCD ditched its traditional comedian host in favor of a historian), and has revoked press passes for certain petulant White House correspondents and threatened to revoke the broadcasting licenses belonging to networks whose coverage he has deemed unfair.
Fox News described the annual White House party as a “significant perk” for White House reporters, given the sumptuous buffett offerings (crab legs, lamb chops and “elaborate desserts” were menu fixtures), opportunity to roam around the White House with a guest – and even have one’s photo taken with the president.
Journalists who attended the events, which featured a catered buffet of lamb chops, crab claws and elaborate desserts, got to roam the decorated mansion with a spouse or other family member, a friend or a colleague, adding to the invitation’s allure.
But the biggest fringe-benefit was the picture-taking sessions, in which the president and first lady would patiently pose with guests and briefly chat with them in front of a Christmas tree, with the White House sending out the photos – copies of which were invariably sent home to mom. This would take a couple of hours, with long lines snaking across the building’s first floor. Bill Clinton even posed for pictures with journalists days after he was impeached.
The White House made no announcement that it was dropping the press party. The president and first lady threw such a gathering last December but did not pose for pictures. Trump made a brief appearance with his wife and offered a few welcoming remarks.
Top White House officials, especially the communications staff, routinely circulated at these media parties and often talked shop. Last year, chief of staff John Kelly held forth with reporters for at least 15 minutes, making informal remarks that turned into a mini-press conference.
Though the White House hasn’t issued an official cancellation, that the president has decided to cancel the event is “hardly shocking,” Fox said. Instead of holding the holiday party for all reporters, Trump is expected to invite some favorable commentators (like his favorite Fox News personalities) to other parties being held during the holiday season.
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