More than 250 former broadcast journalists, including prominent figures such as Dan Rather, Sam Donaldson, and Ann Curry, are calling on the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) to “forcefully demonstrate opposition” to President Donald Trump’s actions against the press during this Saturday’s annual dinner.
In an open letter delivered Monday, the group urged the WHCA to use Trump’s appearance — his first as president at the black-tie event — to push back against what they describe as his efforts to “trample freedom of the press.”
The letter states: “These are not normal times,” and warns that hosting the president without strong protest risks normalizing his attacks on journalists and the First Amendment.
- Former CBS anchor Dan Rather
- Former ABC anchor Sam Donaldson
- Former Dateline NBC anchor Ann Curry
- Other veterans such as Linda Douglass and Stephanie Sy
Journalism organizations that backed the letter include the Society of Professional Journalists, National Association of Black Journalists, National Press Photographers Association, Radio Television Digital News Association, and others.
President Trump announced in March that he would attend the April 25 dinner, breaking years of boycotts during his previous term. The event, which celebrates the First Amendment and raises funds for journalism scholarships, is sold out with more than 2,600 attendees expected.
The letter highlights Trump administration actions including:
- Suing multiple major news outlets
- Banning the Associated Press from White House pool reporting
- Revoking press credentials
- Broader efforts to restrict press access and independent journalism
WHCA President Weijia Jiang previously welcomed Trump’s attendance, stating the dinner has long brought together journalists and presidents across party lines.
The push from retired journalists reflects deep divisions within the media community over how — or whether — to publicly challenge the president at what has traditionally been a night of roasts, celebrity appearances, and schmoozing. Some news organizations, such as HuffPost, have already opted out of attending.