The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is usually a predictable affair: journalists and celebrities gather to bolster their credentials as the powerful insiders who should be running the country.
This year’s dinner, scheduled for Saturday in Washington, D.C., is likely to be very different from previous gatherings of media elites.
That’s because President Donald Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania, said he would attend — after rejecting the event throughout his first term, and last year as well.
This dinner may be unique, perhaps even troubling, because of a recent letter signed by more than 250 journalists calling on the dinner organizers to “strongly demonstrate opposition” to the presidential guest of honor, due to “President Trump’s efforts to crush freedom of the press.”
“We believe the White House Correspondents’ Association should take stronger action by issuing — from the podium — a forceful defense of press freedom and condemnation of those who threaten that freedom, followed by First Amendment elites,” the letter read in part.
The signatories demanded: “Speak out forcefully against the man who seeks to undermine our country’s tradition of an independent, strong, and free press.”
One can debate that last part, given the record low ratings of public approval for the media.
But what will make the event watchable is how Trump chooses to respond.
He may play an offensive role and list his many complaints against the media.
Or he can trick them with an approach they don’t expect: humility and a self-deprecating sense of humor.
This was the tack taken by George W. Bush at the Correspondents’ Dinner in 2006.
Standing at his side with a podium and a presidential seal was artist and Bush look-alike Steve Bridges.
Bridges played Bush’s alter ego, telling members of the press what Bush was doing truly He thought about them – and about himself.
“Here I am at another one of those press dinners,” Bridges said.
“I could be at home sleeping with little Barney at my feet, but no, I have to pretend I like being here.”
The real Bush: “I’m very happy to be here, and so is Laura.”
Bridges: “The media really harasses me because they don’t edit what I say.”
And then: “How can I not have dinner with 36% of the people who like me?”
Bush made fun of himself, his distorted style, his low approval ratings, and even his vice president, Dick Cheney – whom he called “a good man with a good heart. Well, a good man.”
Cheney was suffering from heart disease.
The audience cheered and clapped.
Self-deprecating humor reflects a certain level of humility that tells people that you don’t think too highly of yourself.
President Calvin Coolidge put it succinctly (as he always did) a century ago: “It is a great advantage to the President, and a great asset to the safety of the country, to know that he is no great man.”
Does President Trump have the ability to show humility?
He has not done so yet, either in his presidential or in his professional life.
Maybe he can fake it: In Washington, if you can fake humility, you can fake anything.
Cal Thomas is a veteran political commentator, columnist, and author.