Melania Trump, Donald Trump

FILE - In this April 30, 2011, file photo Donald Trump, left, and Melania Trump arrive for the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington. President Donald Trump says he won't be attending the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner this spring. In a tweet on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, the president doesn't give a reason but says he wishes "everyone well and have a great evening!" The annual fundraiser for college scholarships mixes politicians, journalists and celebrities. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

(Alex Brandon)

White House staff members will not attend the 2017 White House Correspondents' Dinner -- a move which reportedly seeks to show "solidarity" with President Donald Trump, who previously announced he would skip the annual event.

Trump administration officials informed the White House Correspondents' Association this week of the staff's plans to forgo the the April 29 dinner, which raises money for journalism scholarships, according to WHCA President Jeff Mason.

Noting the association's board "regrets this decision very much," Mason said the invitation remains open to Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and White House staff to attend the dinner, which is typically headlined by the sitting president.

Although the WHCA president acknowledged the tension between the Republican's administration and the news media, he offered that the association has worked hard "to build a constructive relationship with the Trump White House."

"Only the White House can speak to the signal it wants to send with this decision," he said in a statement. "But our signal is clear: We will celebrate the First Amendment on April 29 and look forward to acknowledging the important work of our terrific members and awarding scholarships to students who represent the next generation of our profession."

Trump, who has publicly sparred with reporters since entering the White House, announced in a late-February tweet that he would break with tradition and not attend the 2017 White House Correspondents' Dinner.

"I will not be attending the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner this year. Please wish everyone well and have a great evening!" he posted on the social media platform.

I will not be attending the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner this year. Please wish everyone well and have a great evening! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2017

Reports that White House staff would join Trump in not attending the event came as the president blasted media outlets' focus on alleged ties between his administration and Russia as "fake news."

"Why doesn't Fake News talk about Podesta ties to Russia as covered by @FoxNews or money from Russia to Clinton - sale of Uranium?" he tweeted Tuesday evening, taking jabs at 2016 Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton and her campaign chairman John Podesta.

Why doesn't Fake News talk about Podesta ties to Russia as covered by @FoxNews or money from Russia to Clinton - sale of Uranium? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2017

Trump continued to take aim at news outlets Wednesday morning, calling the New York Times "so wrong" and accusing "certain media" of vicious and inaccurate coverage of his administration.

Remember when the failing @nytimes apologized to its subscribers, right after the election, because their coverage was so wrong. Now worse! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2017