On April 26, President Donald Trump will once again refuse to attend the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD), continuing a tradition he began during his first term in office. Trump has long made clear his disdain for the event, and this year’s decision is in line with his previous stance on the gathering. His decision to skip the dinner, which typically draws the country’s top journalists and political figures, is a symbolic gesture reflecting the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA).

For Trump, the WHCD has come to represent a symbol of the entrenched political establishment, often seen as biased and hostile to his administration. This year’s decision to boycott follows the same pattern of resistance, but Trump is also taking steps to counter-program the event, a strategy he employed in previous years. Instead of attending the dinner, Trump is set to host his own event, providing a direct alternative to the WHCD—a move that is sure to resonate with his supporters and further underscore the divide between his administration and the mainstream media.

President Trump’s decision to continue his boycott of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is just one small part of his larger political strategy. By rejecting the traditional political norms, engaging in public battles with the media, and championing the issues that matter most to working-class Americans, Trump has reshaped the Republican Party and positioned it as the party of the people.