How broke is the free press? Apparently, members of the press are broken enough to allow cancelling Amber Ruffin’s booking as host of the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Yes, Amber’s dinner plans are cancelled… at the White House, no less! However, is Amber mad? Actually, deep down, she probably is a bit miffed. But being her understanding self, Ms. Ruffin hopped onto Seth Meyers’ show to give a fair and balanced assessment of the happening.

Of course, I’m kidding. She let ’em have it!

Cancel Her Dinner Date, And Amber May Take You Out!

Satirically.

As they deserved, Ms. Ruffin gave the powers, and the press (the Correspondents Association), a Late Night lampooning! Truthfully, she could have gone a bit harder; like as hard as she was going to go on folks when she took the podium at that Dinner.

Oh, and note that I just called Amber “Ms. Ruffin”… because she can get “nasty” with it; even when delivering tongue-in-cheek commentary with a sweet ‘Janet Jackson’ smile. Like she did in the video clip that follows. They should be grateful that she went easy on them.

Press Wars: Ms. Ruffin Strikes Back… Solo?

Help us, Free Press. You’re our only hope. Or, nah…

You know, I know how broken the news media is. I know how “The News” nowadays is beholden to certain parties, business entities, and audience market segments. So, I am not too pressed about the White House waiving on yet another opportunity to get roasted for the Correspondents’ Dinner. But The Correspondents turning cheek and tucking tail? Wow. It’s just… Well, it saddens me how seemingly alone Amber is at this time. Won’t someone come to her defense now, or at least walk it out with her? Maybe that is what Seth is doing by letting her have her say here. After all, Seth Meyers is among those who have served The Dinner at the White House as Roaster-in-Chief.

Seth Meyers Wasn’t Scared To Swing On Trump… At The White House!

At all!

During the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, comedian Seth Meyers roasted Donald Trump, who attended the event. At the time, Trump was flirting with a presidential run. Meyers mocked Trump’s birther movement and larger-than-life persona. He joked, “Donald, you’ve spent weeks claiming the president was born in Kenya. We don’t have time for this. Please stay quiet so we can focus on more serious matters.”

The audience reacted with mixed laughter. Trump’s discomfort was clear, showing he didn’t enjoy the roast. Meyers’ performance became one of the most famous moments of the night.

Journalists from major outlets also criticized Trump, often referencing his birther claims. However, Seth Meyers’ taking humorous swings at Trump stood out as the most memorable moment from the dinner.

Others Joined Seth Then, Getting A Few Jabs In.

At the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Seth Meyers was indeed the primary figure who directly roasted Donald Trump. However, other members of the press and public figures also indirectly or subtly poked fun at him. The following paragraphs highlight a few others who who got some blows in on the future two-time president. Given the political context of that time, even the president weighed in.

President Barack Obama Didn’t Miss The Opportunity.

Obama was known for his sharp wit. Flipping Trump’s “birther” barbs at him, Obama made several pointed remarks about The Donald’s candidacy during the 2011 event. Obama played up his own persona as a calm, reasonable figure while contrasting that with Trump’s brashness. He made a reference to Trump’s involvement in questioning the legitimacy of his birth certificate, saying, “We’ve got to be able to move past the birther thing, because it’s time to get serious about some of the real issues facing this country.” He then added with a smile, “And you know what, we have to be able to talk about things like the economy, like jobs, like deficit reduction… and let me just say this, I am so confident about my birth certificate that I’m going to release it tonight.”

Hey, you know what would’ve been a hoot? Trump, in turn, finally releasing his suspect tax statements. Ha!

Jon Stewart Delivered Some Hits Via Reports And Clips.

Though funnyman Jon Stewart wasn’t at the dinner itself, he had a big role in shaping the media landscape during Trump’s “birther” saga. On his show The Daily Show, Stewart made fun of Trump for weeks leading up to the 2011 Correspondents’ Dinner. He had mocked Trump as a “clown” and as someone whose interest in politics seemed opportunistic rather than genuine, making fun of him as an attention-seeker.

The Press Corps Piled On.

Many in the room, particularly those in the press, did not directly roast Trump but did add to the underlying ridicule. At the time, in 2011, Trump’s candidacy was seen by many as an attention-grabbing stunt. The tone of the evening, and the presence of many reporters, held a hot critical light to his media manipulations and unfounded political claims. This contributed to a larger atmosphere of disdain for Trump’s behavior.

And Other Comedians Made Political Hay.

The 2011 press dinner featured comedic routines, and while Seth Meyers was the star of the night for roasting Trump, the jokes about Trump often found their way into the general atmosphere of the event. Various correspondents and comedians made references to the ridiculousness of his candidacy and the spectacle he had created with his claims about Obama’s birth certificate.

That Was Then. Amber Is ‘Squabbling Up’ Now. Anyone Else?

Sure, the 2011 dinner was a key moment that foreshadowed Trump’s presidential run… and the start of the fight. And perhaps, with the notion of his running being “funny” back then, the comedic jabs came easier. Given the room’s reactions back then, attendees and viewers worldwide could see (and speak on) the disconnect between him and the political and media establishment. However, with the exception of say, Barack Obama, heavyweight establishment critics are pretty mum now. And where is the press? Admittedly, a cancelled Dinner date is ‘small potatoes’ for Big Media, but it makes for a great opener for discussing other things this administration and its allies are trying to cancel… Things we should hear about, you know, on “The News!” At this point, I would clap until my hands bled for a news team, national or local, who would dare say SOMETHING. Like, about the attempt to cancel our freedom to speak truth to power; in the face of opposition or sanction from those in office and their policies in the free press and as a free people! Wrap us up and break it down for us, please, President Obama…