The theme of this year’s White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner appears to be less is more.

As Washington gears up for the annual buzzy gala amid a touchy political climate, recession fears and sharp tensions between the press and the Trump administration, the District is going lighter on the glitz, dialing down the glam and cutting back on the number of related bashes in general.

A crop of Hollywood heavyweights typically fly into the nation's capital for the weekend-long festivities, reveling alongside journalists, lawmakers and political figures. In recent years, VIP guests including Scarlett Johansson, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson, Kim Kardashian, John Legend and Brooke Shields have been among the crowds packed inside the Washington Hilton hotel's ballroom to hear remarks from the sitting president.

The commander in chief is traditionally followed by a political punchline-filled set from a top comedian — Trevor Noah, Roy Wood, Jr. and Colin Jost have headlined past WHCA dinners.

But this Saturday's dinner will be different.

Just as he did throughout his first term, President Trump — who frequently mocks the "fake news media" and is traveling this week to the Vatican for the funeral of Pope Francis — plans on bucking tradition and skipping the extravagant affair.

The event, described by the WHCA as its "main source of revenue,” including for scholarships and "events and programs to educate the public about the value of the........

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