Still upset that President Trump decided to skip the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in favor of a rally with his supporters Saturday night, on ABC’s Good Morning America on Monday, co-host George Stephanopoulos whined: “President Trump celebrated his 100th day doing one of his favorite things, a fiery rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he laid into the media just as so many were sitting down at the traditional White House Correspondents’ Dinner.”
Correspondent Cecilia Vega framed the annual gala for the Washington D.C. elite in idealist terms as she contrasted it with the Trump event: “It was quite the split screen, journalists there celebrating the First Amendment while the President was at a rally bashing the media.” She lamented: “It was the annual nerd prom, this time, minus the star attraction....The no-show President went to Pennsylvania instead, where he held a competing event with a competing message.”
She complained: “President Trump marked his 100th day by taking direct aim at the media.” As part of his calling out of the liberal press corps, the President cited a Media Research Center study that found a stunning 89 percent of network news coverage of his first 100 days in office had been negative.
Meanwhile, CNN had a complete meltdown over Trump’s “disturbing” criticism of the press, with Reliable Sources host Brian Stelter labeling it “poisonous.”
Here is a full transcript of Vega’s May 1 report:
7:12 AM ET
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: President Trump celebrated his 100th day doing one of his favorite things, a fiery rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he laid into the media just as so many were sitting down at the traditional White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Our senior White House Correspondent Cecilia Vega has all the details. Good morning, Cecilia.
CECILIA VEGA: George, good morning to you. It was quite the split screen, journalists there celebrating the First Amendment while the President was at a rally bashing the media.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: President Trump Blasts Media; Skips Correspondents’ Dinner for Competing Rally]
It was the annual nerd prom, this time, minus the star attraction.
HASAN MINHAJ [CORRESPONDENT, THE DAILY SHOW]: Welcome to the series finale of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
VEGA: The no-show President went to Pennsylvania instead, where he held a competing event with a competing message.
DONALD TRUMP: They are gathered together for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner without the President.
[CHEERS]
And I could not possibly be more thrilled than to be more than 100 miles away from Washington, spending my evening with all of you!
VEGA: President Trump marked his 100th day by taking direct aim at the media.
TRUMP: And look at the media back there, they would actually rather be here.
VEGA: This morning, the White House is also taking another look at health care. After that failed first attempt at repealing and replacing ObamaCare, President Trump says the latest proposal will continue to protect people with pre-existing conditions.
TRUMP: Pre-existing conditions are in the bill and I mandated it. I said it has to be. We have – we’re going to have lower premiums. This bill is much different than it was a little while ago, okay? This bill has evolved.
VEGA: The White House may be hoping for a vote soon but Republicans on Capitol Hill say there is no health care vote scheduled yet and they will not vote until they’ve got the votes to pass this. One aide, George, telling us at this point there’s no health care vote scheduled so far for this week.
STEPHANOPOULOS: They are going to keep trying. Okay, thanks very much, Cecilia.
