Eugene Daniels defends press as Trump's opposition narrative persists

In the United States, the White House Correspondents' Dinner took place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, highlighting the ongoing tension between the media and the Trump administration. Eugene Daniels, the outgoing president of the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) and MSNBC host, delivered a passionate defense of the organization and the role of journalists in holding power accountable. He focused on the importance of accuracy in reporting and emphasized that the media is not the enemy of the people, a direct rebuttal to former President Donald Trump’s frequent characterization of journalists as such. Trump's absence from the event marked the fifth time he has opted out of attending the dinner during his presidency, a move indicative of the strained relationship between his administration and the press. During his speech, Daniels addressed the challenges that journalists have faced under the current administration, asserting that the attempts to control and limit press access are not unprecedented in the history of journalism. He remarked on the importance of journalistic integrity and how the press serves as a vital check on governmental power. Daniels also took the opportunity to defend the Associated Press (AP), which has faced restrictions from the White House due to its refusal to comply with specific terminology mandates, such as referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the