HOLIDAY/MEDIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “A war on Christmas parties? The White House won’t host its annual reception for members of the news media this year. The White House said in a statement to USA TODAY that the party was never put on the holiday schedule this year, thus seemingly never going to happen…President Donald Trump did host the party last year, but the time was moved to the workday, making it more difficult for people to bring their families, and the president did not pose for photos with guests, which had been one of the event’s traditions. According to Fox News, President Bill Clinton even did the photo line days after he was impeached. CNN, which has long been attacked by Trump as ‘fake news,’ skipped last year’s event, citing Trump’s ‘continued attacks on freedom of the press.’ Last month, the White House revoked CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta’s credentials after a testy exchange with the president during a televised news conference. A court later forced the White House to return the reporter’s pass.”
–William Cummings, “President Trump won’t host White House Christmas party for press this year,” USA Today, December 13, 2018 5:06 pm