WHCA President Fires Back: 'We're Not the Enemy,' as Trump Skips Annual Press Dinner (Again)

Eugene Daniels, president of the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA), made it clear Saturday night: journalists aren't the enemy, nor anyone's opposition party. Speaking at the association's annual dinner, Daniels emphasized, "We care deeply about accuracy and take seriously the heavy responsibility of being stewards of the public’s trust. What we are not is the opposition. What we are not is the enemy of the people. And what we are not is the enemy of the state."

This year’s event was notable for who wasn’t in attendance—former President Donald Trump skipped it yet again, continuing his tradition of ghosting the gala. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also RSVP’d “no,” making it clear the guest list was missing a few high-profile names.

Daniels opened the night by acknowledging what a tough year it’s been for the press. "We've been tested, attacked, but every single day our members get up, they run to the White House, plane, train, automobile with one mission, holding the powerful accountable," he said. The only thing missing was a superhero cape—although given the state of things, maybe the press should start handing those out.

Daniels also voiced support for the Associated Press, which has had more than its fair share of run-ins with the Trump administration. At one point, the White House barred AP journalists from certain events over its refusal to use the “Gulf of America” label after Trump tried to rename the Gulf of Mexico by executive order—a move bold enough to make even geography teachers raise an eyebrow.

"To our friends at the Associated Press, you have taken on more than you should have to, but what you have held firm to from the very beginning is that your fight is not about you," Daniels remarked, adding heartfelt thanks to AP executive Julie Pace for her unwavering commitment to editorial independence.

The dinner also saw Axios' Alex Thompson call out the press for missing the mark on covering President Joe Biden’s health issues, after accepting the Aldo Beckman Award for Overall Excellence in White House Coverage. "Being truth tellers also means telling the truth about ourselves. We, myself included, missed a lot of this story," Thompson admitted. He didn’t mince words, pointing out that every White House, no matter the party, has its own brand of secrecy—and the press needs to do better at seeing through it.

With media trust at a low point, both Daniels and Thompson underscored the heavy burden reporters carry. Sometimes, the hardest truth to tell is the one about your own side. Here’s hoping next year’s dinner has more accountability—and maybe a few less empty seats.