Why Tom Hanks gave the White House press an espresso machine

Tom Hanks has sent the White House press corp an espresso machine as a gift to help them in their fight for the truth.

He added a typewritten note, said to be his signature style of correspondence, saying: "Keep up the good fight for the truth, justice and the American way. Especially for the Truth part."

Above the message was an illustration with the caption: "Fresh, spirited American troops, flushed with victory, are bringing in thousands of hungry, ragged, battle-weary prisoners."

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Hanks's present comes in the wake of US President Donald Trump's unprecedented decision not to attend the annual White House correspondent's dinner, where president and press traditionally discuss politics over an evening meal.

Apart from Ronald Reagan, who was recovering from an assassination attempt at the time, Trump is the only commander-in-chief to refuse an invitation to the dinner.

Several organisations, including the BBC, CNN and The Guardian, were banned from a press briefing on 24 February, shortly after Trump called the media "an enemy of the people".

This is the third time Oscar winner Hanks has gifted journalists a coffee boost. He first delivered an espresso machine to the White House in 2004, after hearing that the press corp were feeling deprived of a caffeine fix.

However, on a visit to the White House with director Steven Spielberg in 2010, he joking complained they weren't looking after his present.

"You know you are supposed to clean this after every use," he said. "You are supposed to wipe that off. Look at the build-up there."

A week later, he sent them a new machine, with the message that it was for "the poor slobs of the fourth estate".