Trump to mark 100th day with 'big rally'

The rally will coincide with the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, which US President Donald Trump elected not to attend in a break from tradition. PHOTO: REUTERS

WASHINGTON • United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to hold a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, marking his 100th day in office.

In its announcement on Saturday, the White House did not offer additional details about where the rally would take place or what Mr Trump's focus would be, referring questions to Mr Trump's campaign apparatus.

The campaign's website listed an event for 7.30pm that night in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The rally will coincide with the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, which Mr Trump elected not to attend in a break from tradition.

Mr Trump tweeted: "Next Saturday night I will be holding a BIG rally in Pennsylvania. Look forward to it!"

The 100th-day mark has traditionally been an early measuring point for a new president's effectiveness.

Mr Trump has been eager to show progress on his agenda, but so far has had no major legislative victories. In another tweet on Saturday, he echoed what he told the Associated Press in an interview a day earlier that he plans to make an announcement related to a new tax proposal on Wednesday. But he and his aides have offered no details.

Mr Trump's rally would offer counter-programming to the annual celebration of political journalism that draws more than 2,000 reporters, celebrities and advertisers to the Washington Hilton in the US capital.

The US President had announced in February that he would be the first president in 36 years to skip the dinner. His staff also turned down invitations to be guests at the event.

Mr Trump has had a contentious relationship with the press corps, whom he has labelled "fake news", and some news organisations have cancelled their parties that weekend. But the White House Correspondents' Association has said the dinner will continue, citing the mission of raising money for student scholarships and promoting the journalism of the White House press corps and other independent journalists.

Comedian Hasan Minhaj of Comedy Central's The Daily Show will be the featured performer at the dinner. Reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are scheduled to present the journalism awards.

WASHINGTON POST

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 24, 2017, with the headline Trump to mark 100th day with 'big rally'. Subscribe