Gridiron Dinner Breaks 140-Year Tradition by Toasting the First Amendment, Not the President

The annual white-tie event in Washington, D.C., highlighted press freedoms as President Trump and top officials declined to attend.

The Gridiron Dinner, a longstanding D.C. media and political event, broke its tradition of toasting the sitting president for the first time in its 140-year history.
Instead of the customary toast to the president, attendees celebrated the First Amendment, reflecting concerns over President Trump's recent actions against the press.
President Trump and senior members of his administration, including the Vice President and Secretary of State, declined invitations to attend the event.
The dinner featured comedic skits and speeches, with notable jabs at both Republicans and Democrats, including Elon Musk, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Joe Biden.
The absence of Trump administration officials and the shift in tradition underscored tensions between the press and the White House during Trump's second term.