The Watchdog with David Bozell

President Trump walked into this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner facing a press gallery that has spent years calling him “Hitler,” “dangerous,” and a “threat to democracy.” Incendiary rhetoric like that helped create the climate where, back in April, a radicalized left-wing loon tried to crash the dinner and assassinate him. That’s why the event was postponed, and ultimately held Friday night.

So when Trump finally took the stage, he didn’t tiptoe around the room.

Early in his remarks, he tossed out a line delivered with jest but carrying a sharp edge: “Karoline may have one of the hardest jobs in the White House. She has to deal with all of you… and you can be very difficult. I’m probably being a little bit oversensitive. Sometimes I really do think some of you really don’t like me.” 

The room laughed because everyone knew exactly what he was talking about.

Then he brought up a number the press knows all too well: “I read a report, I get 93% negative publicity.” Then, in classic Trump fashion, he added: “How the hell did I win the election by so much?!”

There wasn’t much to say after that.

That statistic isn’t just a funny line. It’s the product of years of MRC research. Trump cites it regularly because it’s ours, it’s accurate, and the media know better than to challenge it.

He concluded, “But this place is really, the largest group of Trump Derangement Syndrome people ever put together at one time, I suspect.” 

He wasn’t wrong.

Right on cue, The New York Times complained. Chief White House correspondent Peter Baker declared it was “time to rethink” the dinner because it didn’t “advance” reporting “without fear or favor.” Baker is the same guy who wrote a glowing Obama book, smiled for photos next to Joe Biden at past dinners, and even took home a WHCD award for his Biden coverage. 

So now this dinner is beyond the pale?

No. The media’s Trump Derangement Syndrome is the story. And we just documented it for you.

​​​​​​Take it easy, 

David Bozell
President