What's happening in the political world:
Trump declares annual dinner “DEAD”
-- President Trump has again slammed the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, saying the event is “DEAD as we know it” and referring to it as a “disaster” and “embarrassment.”
Trump tweeted Monday morning: “The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is DEAD as we know it. This was a total disaster and an embarrassment to our great Country and all that it stands for. FAKE NEWS is alive and well and beautifully represented on Saturday night!”
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is DEAD as we know it. This was a total disaster and an embarrassment to our great Country and all that it stands for. FAKE NEWS is alive and well and beautifully represented on Saturday night!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2018
The president’s comments come as comedian Michelle Wolf faces criticism for jokes aimed at White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
In response, the White House Correspondents’ Association said Wolf’s monologue was “not in the spirit” of the group’s mission.
Trump did not attend the dinner for the second straight year, opting to appear at a rally in Michigan.
Trump "just asking" if Korean border would be best suited for Kim meeting
-- President Trump on Monday morning suggested that he'd like to hold his potential meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un near the border of North and South Korea.
"Numerous countries are being considered for the MEETING, but would Peace House/Freedom House, on the Border of North & South Korea, be a more Representative, Important and Lasting site than a third party country? Just asking!" Trump tweeted.
Numerous countries are being considered for the MEETING, but would Peace House/Freedom House, on the Border of North & South Korea, be a more Representative, Important and Lasting site than a third party country? Just asking!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2018
Last week, Trump said the list of potential sites for a summit had been narrowed down to two countries.
While the two sides have yet to arrive at a decision on where the summit will be held, U.S. officials favor Singapore, two people familiar with the discussions told CNN last week. Officials have ruled out sites in China and the Korean Peninsula for the talks, determining they wouldn't appear neutral.
Annual NRA convention to feature Trump appearance
-- White House officials say President Trump will speak before the annual National Rifle Association convention in Dallas later this week.
The president is expected to appear on Friday. It will be the fourth time in as many years that Trump will appear at the NRA gathering.
Trump’s attendance comes over two months after he suggested he was looking to make changes to the nation’s gun control laws in light of the tragic shooting in Parkland, Florida.
Trump supported the idea of raising the minimum gun-buying age to 21 and was open to expanded background checks -- suggestions that NRA officials have not been on board with in the past.
However, the president later backed down from his stance.
CNN contributed to this report
