Some reporters after White House cancels press holiday party: We wouldn’t have gone anyway

Some members of the media fired back at the White House on Thursday after it announced that it would forgo its traditional holiday party for members of the press.

“FYI, I had never planned to attend the White House Christmas party last year or this year,” National Urban Radio Network White House correspondent April Ryan said on Twitter shortly after the announcement.

“Why break bread with folks who hate you & call you names? (@PressSec & @realDonaldTrump) That is not the Christmas spirit I know. I feel sorry for those who wanted to go and can’t. SAD!” continued Ryan, who has frequently criticized the White House.

FYI, I had never planned to attend the White House Christmas party last year or this year. Why break bread with folks who hate you & call you names? (@PressSec & @realDonaldTrump) That is not the Christmas spirit I know. I feel sorry for those who wanted to go and can’t. SAD!

— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) December 13, 2018

“I really don’t give a damn if @realDonaldTrump cancelled the White House Christmas party for the press,” tweeted Roland Martin, the former host of News One Now and host of “Roland Martin Unfiltered.”

“It has NO bearing on our jobs or the American people. One word sums it all up: WHATEVER,” he continued.

Other members of the press also weighed in on the news.

No big surprise here.

But hey we’re still having our own party in the WH basement tomorrow so, Trump is welcome to stop by if he wants to. https://t.co/CpLeG9U9b9

— Kathryn Watson (@kathrynw5) December 13, 2018

I would not attend even if it was not cancelled. https://t.co/XLlJWeJAZT

— Ksenija Pavlovic McAteer (@ksenijapavlovic) December 13, 2018

FINALLY, the leader of the War on Christmas surfaces. Who radicalized him? The Grinch?

Trump Cancels White House Christmas Party for the Press#thursdaymorning #thursdaymotivation https://t.co/WkhRaEoWvh

— Holly Figueroa O’Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) December 13, 2018

Trump has become the president who stole Christmas https://t.co/wDYhoY4eMq

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) December 13, 2018

{mosads}A White House official confirmed the news in a statement to The Hill on Thursday, noting that members of the media who do want to attend Christmas events at the White House are welcome to visit.

“The White House Christmas press party was not put on the holiday schedule this year,” the statement read.

“However, we have accommodated members of the media and their families who have asked to see the holiday decorations by arranging White House Open House Tours for them.”  

Fox News first reported that President Trump cancelled the annual White House party for the media, which has been an invitation-only tradition where officials and media mingled informally.

Trump also bucked the press by declining to attend the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, a media awards event that had been attended by past commanders in chief since President Nixon, for the past two years.