Time, People cancel White House correspondents’ party

Time and People magazines announced Monday they will not be co-hosting their annual party the night before the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner.

The decision to cancel the star-studded gathering was confirmed by a Time spokesperson.

“Time Inc. will not be hosting its annual Time/People party at the St. Regis during this year’s WHCA weekend. As usual, Time will be participating in the WHCA dinner. People will be making a donation to the WHCA in lieu of tables at the dinner.”

The two Time Inc. mags follow other major publications in deciding to pull out of the festivities. In January, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker also declared their respective parties canceled.

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Bloomberg followed suit last month.

Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan has called for canceling the event over President Trump’s treatment of the media, which he has described as an “enemy of the people” and “scum.”

Trump announced last month he would not be in attendance at the dinner known as “Nerd Prom,” slated for April 29 at the Washington Hilton.

It will mark the first time in 36 years the president will not be in attendance. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan could not attend due to being in the hospital following an assassination attempt. Reagan did appear via video message, however.

Prior to that, President Jimmy Carter didn’t attend for two of his four years in office.

An entertainer for the event, usually a comedian, has not been announced yet.

The WHCA dinner, which raises money for journalism scholarships, began in 1921.