Trump is the only president, aside from Ronald Reagan, who hasn’t attended the annual Correspondents’ Dinner while in office since its first event in 1921, which was started by journalists who cover the White House. Notably, Reagan’s absence in 1981 was reportedly due to his recovery after he was shot in an assassination attempt.

Journalist Alex Thompson said Biden's "decline and its cover-up by the people around him is a reminder that every White House regardless of party is capable of deception."