Comedian Michelle Wolf’s caustic routine at Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner got some major pushback — and not just from President Donald Trump and members of his administration (many of whom, like press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, were in the room).
“Unfortunately, I don’t think we advanced the cause of journalism tonight,” New York Times White House correspondent Peter Baker tweeted.
Politico reporter Kyle Cheney said that the harsh tone of Wolf’s routine was off-putting — and counterproductive to the message that the press organization was trying to send.
“Michelle Wolf didn’t fail just because she was (spectacularly) one-sided,” he tweeted. “It was because she was unnecessarily cruel on a night the WHCA was trying to showcase decency and purpose.”
Associated Press reporter Meg Kinnard added, “If the #WHCD dinner did anything tonight, it made the chasm between journalists and those who don’t trust us, even wider.”
Many focused on the harsh jokes from the “Daily Show” alum directed at White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who was on the dais as Wolf delivered jibes at her personal appearance and honesty.
“The spirit of the event had always been jokes that singe but don’t burn,” NBC News White House correspondent Kelly O’Donnell tweeted, noting that “reporters who work with her daily appreciate” that Sanders turned up for the event at all.
Unfortunately, I don't think we advanced the cause of journalism tonight.
The spirit of the event had always been jokes that singe but don’t burn. Reporters who work with her daily appreciate that @presssec was there. https://t.co/PorH9jGJ7G
Michelle Wolf didn’t fail just because she was (spectacularly) one-sided. It was because she was unnecessarily cruel on a night the WHCA was trying to showcase decency and purpose.
If the #WHCD dinner did anything tonight, it made the chasm between journalists and those who don't trust us, even wider. And those of us based in the red states who work hard every day to prove our objectivity will have to deal with it.
Early Sunday, Trump himself panned the event as a “very big, boring bust” and said “the so-called comedian really ‘bombed.'”
Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer called the dinner “a disgrace.”
Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, said that he and his wife, White House Director of Strategic Communications Mercedes Schlapp, walked out early in protest: “Enough of elites mocking all of us.”
Some good lines. And I’m very willing to laugh at brutal jokes. I did. Some of the personal attacks on Sarah Sanders were unfunny & would never EVER be told about a Democrat in her position. Also, if you’re going to make abortion jokes, make them close to funny 👎 gross. #WHCD
I wouldn’t have thought any less if they would have walked out — it was insulting and shameful. #WHCD is not about journalism this year but about elite snobbery and bullying. I’m thankful I wasn’t there. @realDonaldTrump was smart not to go and hang w great people in #Michiganhttps://t.co/vtrOxzOOGl
I have attended the #WHCD In ‘96 Al Franken roasted the Clintons mercilessly. He even made a joke about the stain on Monica’s dress w/ Hillary sitting right there. The WHCD has been a full contact sport for decades. Trump’s lies & vulgarity are coming back to bite him in the ass. pic.twitter.com/MjP8kW7be3
And while Wolf was excoriated by many in Washington, her act was applauded by others, like The Intercept co-founder Glenn Greenwald, who praised Wolf for making the night uncomfortable.
Jim Carrey Depicts a Destructive Trump Presidency in 50 of His Politically Charged Artworks (Photos)
Jim Carrey has made his disdain for the current state of politics an artform... literally. The Oscar-nominated actor-turned-artist's series of drawings depict all that he believes to be wrong in D.C., with his biggest gripe going right to the top with President Trump himself. Here are just a few of his many objets d'art that lay out his discontent for all to see.
Sept. 29, 2020 •
"Trump’s allegiances couldn’t have been any clearer in that debate if his hair were on fire - and it was. #BidenHarris #TeamHuman #GoliathWillFall"
Sept. 19, 2020 •
"#BidenHarris." In Carrey's artwork, the “Fat Man” and “Little Boy” tags refer to the codenames of the two nuclear bombs detonated over Japan in 1945, when 192,020 people were killed by the U.S.
Sept. 9, 2020 •
Originally posted on Aug. 23 with the death toll from COVID-19 listed at 180,000 "and counting," Carrey updated it on Sept. 9 with the caption, "191,000 deaths - conservatively. Neutered CDC now suppressing numbers for Trump. Woodward recording proves he knew it was deadly back in February!" For effect, he added a recording of Trump obtained by journalist Bob Woodward in which the president admitted knowing how deadly the coronavirus was.
Sept. 8, 2020 •
"#BidenHarris"
June 25, 2020 •
"Trump 2020. Reckless Endangerment Tour"
June 17, 2020 •
"Can't stop tweeting," Carrey says breathless, imitating the POTUS as the caricature's head spins violently. "Need to sleep. Tweets a cry for help. Please, someone test my pee!"
May 14, 2020 •
"When America needed masks Fox 'News' gave them blindfolds"
May 11, 2020 •
"Grim Reaper officially jealous of Trump and GOP's ability to double the death toll"
April 29, 2020 •
"Trump’s next medical breakthrough: 'Want COVID out? SHOUT IT OUT!'"
March 26, 2020 •
"Trump is willing to risk countless lives to save his economic record. He has fully become the mayor from Jaws."
March 24, 2020 •
"As cases of COVID-19 double every three days in NYC, the President reassures Wall Street that he can handle the important tissues."
Dec. 22, 2019
Dec. 18, 2019 •
"That night, Donald had a very strange dream."
Dec. 4, 2019 •
"Like Captain Ahab, obsessed by a white whale of earthly dominance, Trump beckons all those who enable his madness to their doom. Will we awaken to the truth or ignore our own senses and blindly follow a maniac into the abyss? Me? 'They call me Ishmael!'"
Nov. 21, 2019 •
"His reign will soon be over. Woe to the loyal subjects of this counterfeit king."
Nov. 11, 2019 •
"Hope you had a great Veterans’ Day! I pray in the future that our soldiers will have a real leader, not a coward or a lying thieving draft dodging pirate with tiny man parts [ALLEGEDLY]! But hey, maybe next year - if justice prevails."
Nov. 9, 2019
Sept. 27, 2019 •
“Rise up! Rise up armies of darkness! Bring me the whistleblowers, that I might suck the marrow from their bones and build my border wall with their traitorous skulls!!! If you wanna call that witness intimidation, fine.”
Sept. 26, 2019 •
"Yippie-ki-yay MF!"
Sept. 13, 2019 •
"Hey, Nancy Pelosi: There’s something on the wing! Some THING! You may wanna grit your teeth and cross your fingers while this gremlin rips the engines apart - but the rest of us want to live. START THE HEARINGS! IMPEACH THIS ANIMAL!!"
Sept. 11, 2019 •
"Who will be the new National Security Advisor? Will it be The Hamburglar, or is he better suited to take on climate change? When it comes to horrible options, Trump’s bench runs deep. BTW you’re paying for the burgers."
Sept. 3, 2019 •
"United Sadists of America."
June 30, 2019 •
"Guilty Loser Donald Trump isn’t rich. Being heartless, untrustworthy and made of dirty money is the worst kind of poverty there is. So cast your vote like you’re worth something and let the angels dispose of this waste."
April 24, 2019 •
"Let’s all drink a toast to the new king of lies, and the minions who help him while democracy dies, and our kids who’ll be taught that the wicked are wise because Potus was Jack from ‘Lord of The Flies’. How much poison are you willing to swallow?!"
April 18, 2019 •
"It's not illegal for Trump’s head to spin around while he vomits copious amounts of green bile either, but he’s definitely not fit to be President, he’s definitely not exonerated and Barr definitely couldn’t go any lower."
March 17, 2019 • "Innocent people are now being slaughtered, families ruined and childrens' lives destroyed. All in his name. If the Craven Republican Senate allows this vile miscreant to continue encouraging devisiveness, the 'Trump Presidency' will become an EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT."
Feb, 27, 2019 • "If Trump makes a nuclear deal w/ North Korea, it's a FRAUD: China and Russia trying to keep their Prize Pony in the White House. When there's a Nobel Prize for cowardice and moral desolation Trump will be the first to receive it."
Jan. 30, 2019 •
"The New American Dream! Get rid of this filth and bring our blue skies back."
Jan. 10, 2019 •
"34 journalists were murdered last year because tyrants like Trump demonized them for doing their jobs. Maybe this year he'll get a new bone saw for his bday from his pal, the Saudi Slayer, and they can chop up the next body together. That's what 'fiends' are for!"
Jan. 8, 2019 •
"When Trump tries to frighten and decieve the nation tonight, remember to follow every sentence that comes out of his mouth with, "HE LIED!" (7000 + so far) Don't let him turn you into a clown, too busy juggling his lies to see the edge of the cliff."
Dec. 21, 2018 •
"WE'RE LOSING HER!"
Dec. 2, 2018 •
"Ain't nuthin but a G-20 thing, baaaabay!"
Nov. 15, 2018 •
"As the California death toll rises our Sadist-in-Chief is spending $220 million to send troops to the border for nothing. That’s one way to get rid of Democrats. This is no longer politics. This is manslaughter."
Nov. 11, 2018 •
"Guess who cut the funding for fire management in California then blamed the fires on mismanagement? How do YOU spell infantile?!"
Nov. 6, 2018 •
"Shameless lies. Endless indictments. The rise of racist hate groups. Kidnapped children. Contempt for rule of law - and quite possibly TREASON. Let's end this ill-wind that's blowing America off-balance and turning us against each other. VOTE DEMOCRAT!"
Oct. 30, 2018 •
"The GOP are now completely invested in Trump's economy of LIES. They say they're gonna give you HEALTHCARE while working to destroy it. They make up lies about refugees while KIDNAPPING INNOCENT CHILDREN! Vote Democrat. Help save the future. DON'T FOLLOW THE RED HAT TO HELL!"
Oct. 12, 2018 •
"From the bowels of the White House he shrieked, hurled curses and tweeted bile -- because that's what demons do. YOU are the Exorcist. Vote Democrat for goodness' sake."
Sept. 25, 2018 •
"The monster is out of control. Vote for your lives!"
Sept. 2, 2018 •
"Donald Trump is now inciting civil unrest at his rallies, threatening the safety of our citizens. A real President doesn’t do this. A real congress won’t allow him to."
Aug. 21, 2018 •
"Manafort, GUILTY! Cohen, GUILTY! Flynn, Guilty! Gates, Guilty! What's happening to All the Best People? 'Ladies and Gentlemen! Children of all ages! Can the Great Spewdini spew enough lies to escape the straight-jacket of his un-Presidented criminality?'"
Aug. 18, 2018 •
"Down and down they went. Lower than any administration in history. Arthritic knees creaking and burning, Giuliani's hammy thighs chafing in the wet heat of his Master's crypt. It seemed like the bottom was nowhere in sight."
Aug. 17, 2018 •
"40 innocent children killed on a bus in Yemen. Our ally. Our missile. Our crime."
July 30, 2018 •
"Sorry, family farmers. You picked the wrong guy to protect you."
June 24, 2018 •
"Christianity, Trump style: 'Jesus was a loser. A failed carpenter. He's a savior because he was crucified. I like people that weren't crucified.' vote.gov"
June 19, 2018 •
"'If the Democrats would just stop the Mueller investigation, build a wall, declare me a God and pass a special law allowing me to marry my hot daughter I wouldn't have to devour these immigrant babies. It's terrible what they're doing. Obstructionists!'"
June 11, 2018 •
"Let's Make A Deal: You'll be a real world leader. I'll sway the midterm elections. And together we will save the world from the bloodthirsty Canadians."
May 27, 2018 •
"1500 innocent children ripped from their mothers' arms at our border. Lost in Trump's "system". Give us your tired, your poor, your huddle masses yearning to breathe free -- and we will torture them for wanting a better life. From Shining City to Evil Empire in under 500 days."
April 10, 2018 •
"If you’re screwed and you don’t know where to go to why don’t you bomb where Assad sits PUTIN ON THE RITZ."
March 23, 2018 •
"Fifty Shades of Decay"
Jan. 24, 2018 •
"11 school shootings in 24 days. The new Norm!"
1 of 51
Actor throws political punches at the president regarding gun violence, immigration, Putin and the state of the country
Jim Carrey has made his disdain for the current state of politics an artform... literally. The Oscar-nominated actor-turned-artist's series of drawings depict all that he believes to be wrong in D.C., with his biggest gripe going right to the top with President Trump himself. Here are just a few of his many objets d'art that lay out his discontent for all to see.
