White House Correspondents' Association expresses concern over Michelle Wolf jokes, while Trump grouses
The big news on Sunday — if you got your news only from Twitter — was whether comedian Michelle Wolf crossed some line in her White House Correspondents' Dinner jokes on Saturday night. On Sunday night, White House Correspondents' Association President Margaret Talev said in a statement that she has "heard from members expressing dismay with the entertainer's monologue and concerns about how it reflects on our mission," a celebration of the free press and constitutional right to free speech. "Unfortunately, the entertainer's monologue was not in the spirit of that mission," Talev decided.
Wolf roasted the Washington press, Congress, Democrats, Republicans, Hillary Clinton, and others, but most of the criticism was of her minute-and-a-half bit about White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who was there representing President Trump. Trump, for a second year, skipped the dinner to hold a campaign rally. Presidents traditionally attend the dinner themselves and participate in the roasting.
Talev, senior White House correspondent for Bloomberg News, said she would discuss "the format of the dinner going forward" with incoming WHCA president Olivier Knox. Trump tweeted Sunday that the "so-called comedian really 'bombed,'" then called Wolf "filthy" in a second tweet and groused about the 2011 WHCD where Seth Meyers aimed some jokes at a visibly unamused "birther"-era Trump.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Meyers, whose Late Night employed Wolf as a writer before she joined The Daily Show, decided that given the pushback, Wolf could declare "Mission Accomplished." Peter Weber
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Why are people microdosing Ozempic?
In The Spotlight Tiny doses of the weight-loss drug can sidestep its unpleasant side effects, say influencers. But is customising the dose a good idea?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Five festive cocktails for Christmas 2024
The Week Recommends Serve seasonal libations for an extra special gathering
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Octopuses could be the next big species after humans
UNDER THE RADAR What has eight arms, a beaked mouth, and is poised to take over the planet when we're all gone?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published