D.C. Press Breaks 140-Year Tradition to Snub President Trump

In an unprecedented move, Washington’s elite press corps refused to toast President Donald Trump at the annual Gridiron Club dinner on Saturday, breaking a tradition that dates back 140 years. The gesture, presented under the guise of honoring press freedom, was widely seen as another example of the media’s growing hostility toward the president.

A Night of Cold Shoulders

Each year, the Gridiron Club, an exclusive society of Washington journalists, gathers for an evening of satire and speeches. Traditionally, the event includes a toast to the sitting president, followed by remarks from the commander-in-chief or the vice president. But this year, things took a drastic turn.

“A toast to the First Amendment,” declared Gridiron President Judy Woodruff, a long-time PBS anchor, as journalists clinked their glasses—not to Trump, but to themselves.

White House Officials: ‘We Have Work to Do’

The White House was noticeably absent from the event, signaling its own rejection of the Beltway establishment. President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and key administration figures—including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz—all opted out.

“Nobody went because either we were busy working or we just don’t care to be recognized by that crowd,” a senior White House official told Politico.

This marked a stark contrast to past Republican presidents who participated, including Trump himself in 2018 when he attended and struck a far more conciliatory tone toward the press.

An Ugly Display of Partisan Mockery

The event took a sharper turn when Maryland Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat, took the stage. In a clear swipe at Trump, he joked about supposed ties between the administration and Russia.

“If I actually wanted to be president, I wouldn’t do any of this,” Moore quipped. “Instead, I would take my case directly to the people who are in charge of our democracy—the Kremlin.”

The line drew laughter from the media crowd, but not from everyone. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, one of the few administration officials present, reportedly walked out in protest.

Media Redefines ‘Tradition’

With the president absent, organizers scrambled to fill the traditional closing slot. Instead of hearing from the sitting commander-in-chief, attendees were shown video and audio clips of previous Republican presidents at past dinners.

“These demonstrated the good humor and fellowship this dinner is all about,” Woodruff told Politico.

But many see this as just another example of how Washington’s media elite have abandoned even the pretense of fairness. The press, once a watchdog for the American people, has increasingly positioned itself as an adversary to this administration—and to the voters who put Trump in office.

Trump’s History with the Press

This latest snub represents a dramatic shift from 2018, when Trump attended the dinner and extended an olive branch to reporters.

“I don’t get to say it often, but you have some incredible, brilliant, powerful, smart and fair people in the press,” Trump said at the time, acknowledging their role in sustaining democracy.

Seven years later, that goodwill is gone. The battle lines between the Trump administration and the mainstream media are clearer than ever—and this weekend’s events only confirmed what many conservatives already believe: The press is no longer just covering the news. They are part of the opposition.