The annual White House Correspondents' Dinner took place here with journalists and comedians poking fun at President Donald Trump for skipping the event.
"We are here to celebrate the press, not the presidency," Xinhua news agency quoted White House Correspondents' Association President Jeff Mason as telling a full house on Saturday.
"We are not fake news... we are not the enemy of the American people," Mason said.
The remarks were seen as a response to Trump's past attacks on the US media, in which he labelled multiple organisations as "the enemy of the American people" and accused them of producing "fake news".
Comedian Hasan Minhaj played a leading role in roasting Trump, making fun of his habit of tweeting at three in the morning and playing golf.
Minhaj also made an analogy between the media and minorities in society, as both suffer from discrimination.
Trump earlier said he would not attend this year's dinner event, the first since he assumed presidency, after the relationship between the White House and the media soured as both sides traded accusations.
The White House Correspondents' Dinner, a tradition since 1921, is an annual event that usually features good-spirited humour between the President and correspondents covering the White House.
Click here to watch the link
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
)