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President Trump will not attend White House Correspondents' dinner

Annual event is star-studded, comedic banquet
Posted at 3:25 PM, Feb 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-25 18:12:49-05

President Trump is apparently in no mood to joke around.

Trump announced on Saturday that he will skip the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, a jovial, star-studded event that has been a staple of the Washington social calendar since 1920.

Trump's announcement comes a day after Bloomberg news announced it was scrapping its annual WHCA dinner afterparty.

Nicknamed "Nerd Prom," the White House Correspondents' dinner is a bi-partisan event that typically sees a popular comedian as host, often making jokes at the expense of the sitting president and other politicians who are in the room. The president traditionally takes the stage at the end of the night, delivering roast-style jokes.

The 2016 White House Correspondents' dinner made headlines when President Obama dropped the microphone after his monologue and also when host Larry Wilmore said the n-word as a term of endearment aimed at Obama.

Trump has been the target of jokes at several correspondents' dinners in recent years, where he has typically been in attendance.

The White House Correspondents' Dinner is also a meaningful night for journalists, as the WHCA gives out awards for excellence in reporting before the jokes start.

The 2017 White House Correspondents' Association dinner is scheduled to take place on April 29.

Clint Davis covers entertainment and trending news topics for the Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.