As much of the political media gathered in Washington, D.C. for the annual White House Correspondents Dinner, Pres. Trump was more than 100 miles away, in Harrisburg, PA, headlining a First 100 Days rally. The first 15 minutes of his speech was an excoriation of the press: from “fake news” CNN and MSNBC to the “failing” New York Times.
“A large group of Hollywood actors and Washington media are consoling each other in a hotel ballroom in our Nation’s Capitol right now,” said Trump to the crowd. “They are gathered together for the White House Correspondents Dinner–without the president.”
“Media outlets like CNN and MSNBC are fake news. Fake news,” the president said, “and they’re sitting in Washington, they’re watching right now, they’re watching.”
At one point, the crowd began chanting, “CNN sucks, CNN sucks.”
Fox News, CNN and MSNBC all carried the president’s speech, while MSNBC and CNN planned to pivot to coverage from the Washington Hilton and the Correspondents Dinner when the president concludes his speech.