Trump jokes mostly fall flat at WHCA dinner as he attacks journalists and political foes
President Trump's speech at the White House Correspondents' Dinner was marked by familiar grievances and insults, receiving poor reviews for its lack of new material. The analysis suggests the performance failed to effectively engage or pivot toward midterm election goals.
Why it matters
Provides insight into the political communication style of the administration and its reception by the press corps.
Link Copied! Familiar insults, offensive comments mark Trump's WHCD speech Analysis by Jeff Zeleny President Donald Trump speaks during the re-scheduled White House Correspondents Dinner in the Presidential Ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria on Friday. Eric Lee/Getty Images Perhaps you can’t teach a new joke to an old president.
For more than an hour, Donald Trump delivered a litany of familiar insults, offensive comments and inside-the-Beltway snubs as he made his first appearance as president at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner. Even he could tell, in real time, that many of his jokes were bombing.
With 102 days to go until the midterm elections set the course for the rest of his term, Trump made only passing references to the congressional campaigns underway across the country. He didn’t use the primetime address to lift Republican candidates or highlight why his party deserves to maintain control of Congress.
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