OPINION:
The White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner is usually a predictable affair. Journalists and celebrities gather to reinforce their credentials as powerful insiders who should be the ones running the country.
This year’s dinner, to be held Saturday in Washington, is likely to be something quite different from previous gatherings of media elites.
That’s because President Trump (and first lady Melania Trump) say they will attend after snubbing the event since 2015.
This dinner could be unique, even unsettling, because of a letter recently signed by more than 250 journalists calling on the dinner’s organizers “to forcefully demonstrate opposition to President Trump’s efforts to trample freedom of the press.”
The letter reads, in part: “We believe the White House Correspondents Association should take stronger action by issuing — from the podium — a forceful defense of freedom of the press and condemnation of those who threaten that freedom, followed by a standing toast to the First Amendment. Speak forcefully, in front of the man who seeks to undermine our country’s long tradition of an independent, strong, and free press.”
One can debate that last part, given the media’s low public approval ratings.
What will make the event watchable is how Mr. Trump reacts. He might play offense and list his grievances against the media, or he might fool them by taking an approach they don’t expect: humility and self-deprecating humor.
That was the path taken by President George W. Bush at the 2006 event. Standing next to him with a lectern and presidential seal was entertainer and Bush look-alike Steve Bridges. Mr. Bridges played the part of Mr. Bush’s alter ego, saying what Mr. Bush really thought.
“Here I am at another one of these press dinners,” Mr. Bridges said. “I could be home asleep with little Barney at my feet, but no, I have to pretend I like being here.”
The real Mr. Bush: “I’m absolutely delighted to be here, as is Laura.”
Mr. Bridges: “The media really ticks me off by not editing what I say,” and “How come I can’t have dinner with the 36% of the people who like me?”
Mr. Bush made fun of himself and his mangled syntax, low approval ratings and vice president, Dick Cheney, whom he called “a good man with a good heart. Well, a good man.” (Cheney had a heart condition.) The audience roared and applauded.
Self-deprecating humor reflects a certain level of modesty, suggesting you don’t think more highly of yourself than you should.
President Coolidge put it succinctly (as he always did) a century ago: “It is a great advantage to a President, and a major source of safety to the country, for him to know that he is not a great man.”
Does Mr. Trump have within him the capacity to demonstrate humility? He hasn’t yet done so either in his presidential or business life. Maybe he could fake it.
In Washington, if you can fake humility, you can fake anything.
• Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book, “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (Humanix Books).
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