CNN commentator Van Jones acknowledged President Donald Trump's decision to stay for the entirety of the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) Dinner, stating that Trump deserved credit for remaining in the room despite facing journalists critical of his administration.
During the network's coverage of the event, Jones noted that Trump had the option to leave before the awards were presented. "He’s not running away," Jones said. "He’s going to be there. And maybe someone will have the courage to speak up [against him]. Maybe they won’t. But he’s putting himself in harm’s way in that regard."
The dinner had been rescheduled from its original April 25 date following an incident where a gunman fired a shot near the White House security perimeter.
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However, following Trump's remarks, Jones offered a strong critique of the president's speech. "I think the worst thing you can say is that it just wasn’t funny at all," Jones stated. "It just wasn’t funny. It was mean and small. But you can be mean and small and funny. This was mean and small and not funny."
Jones also criticized Trump's choice of topics during his address. He suggested that the president missed an opportunity to connect with Americans facing everyday struggles, such as the cost of gas or concerns about family members serving overseas. "He missed the entire opportunity to talk to those people," Jones added.
Earlier, Jones had also commented on internal party dynamics, distinguishing between progressive ideas and what he termed "regressive" positions held by some activists within the Democratic Party.