The White House Correspondents' Dinner takes place tonight, but for the second year running the expected guest of honour – two-time Emmy nominee, former steak salesman and current United States President Donald Trump – will not be present.

The last 15 presidents all attended at least one of the annual dinners, which have been held by the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) since 1921. The glitzy black-tie event has been attacked in previous years for symbolising an unduly cosy relationship between the government and the press.

But under the Trump administration, that relationship has become less cosy. Just days before announcing he would skip last year's dinner, Trump released a statement smearing US outlets including CNN, The New York Times and his former employer NBC – all of which will have journalists at this year's dinner– as "the enemy of the American people!"