White Home Correspondents’ Dinner taking pictures: How Trump is responding

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Welcome to The Logoff: Hello, readers. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump was the goal of a 3rd high-profile assassination try on the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner . He was unhurt, as have been the opposite attendees. One Secret Service agent was shot however not badly injured, due to a bulletproof vest.

We’re prone to study extra in regards to the shooter, who was arraigned in DC as we speak, within the coming days. However the White Home is popping out swinging on two different priorities post-shooting: Jimmy Kimmel and Trump’s ballroom.

What’s occurring? Let’s begin with Kimmel, who made a joke earlier within the week describing First Girl Melania Trump as having “a glow like an expectant widow.” On Monday, each Trumps known as for Kimmel to lose his job over the joke, which Melania described as “hateful and violent.”

That is one thing the Trump administration has tried before . Final yr, Kimmel was briefly off the air after Trump’s Federal Communications Fee chair threatened his employer, ABC; his reinstatement was a black eye for the administration.

There’s nothing to attach Kimmel’s joke with Saturday evening’s assault, however the administration, undeterred, seems to be attempting once more.

And the ballroom? Stated ballroom — a large entertaining area for which the East Wing was demolished — doesn’t exist but, however Trump badly needs it completed earlier than the top of his time period. Proper now, nevertheless, the White Home is enjoined from proceeding with above-ground development on the constructing.

And so, following the assault, the administration is leaning onerous right into a supposed nationwide safety justification for the ballroom. On Sunday, Appearing Legal professional Basic Todd Blanche mentioned that the lawsuit in opposition to the administration was “delaying the development of a safe facility for the President to do his job.”

(The Correspondents’ Dinner just isn't a authorities occasion and wouldn't be hosted on the White Home even have been the ballroom accomplished.)

What’s the massive image? Confronted with a possible tragedy narrowly prevented, the Trump administration goes all-in on petty political opportunism — and attempting to trip roughshod over its opponents.

And with that, it’s time to sign off…

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