President Donald Trump has hit back at criticism from the Correspondents' dinner. Photo / AP
Donald Trump has issued a furious response to a controversial speech that targeted members of his administration.
US comedian Michelle Wolf has been slammed over the roast of a monologue she delivered at a prestigious media dinner in Washington, while standing just metres away from Sarah Huckabee Sanders during the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner.
Taking to Twitter, Donald Trump said the dinner — which he did not attend — was a "failure" and an "embarrassment to everyone associated with it".
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner was a failure last year, but this year was an embarrassment to everyone associated with it. The filthy “comedian” totally bombed (couldn’t even deliver her lines-much like the Seth Meyers weak performance). Put Dinner to rest, or start over!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2018
He described Wolf as a "filthy 'comedian'" who "totally bombed", comparing her speech with Seth Meyers' Golden Globes monologue earlier this year, which similarly slammed the President.
While she received some laughter for her candid roasting of the Press Secretary — which included references to her make-up, Ann Coulter and The Handmaid's Tale — a number of high-profile commentators have said Wolf went too far.
The New York Times' White House correspondent Maggie Haberman, TV news presenter Mika Brzezinski and former press secretary Sean Spicer were among those who slammed the controversial speech.
That @PressSec sat and absorbed intense criticism of her physical appearance, her job performance, and so forth, instead of walking out, on national television, was impressive.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 29, 2018
Watching a wife and mother be humiliated on national television for her looks is deplorable. I have experienced insults about my appearance from the president. All women have a duty to unite when these attacks happen and the WHCA owes Sarah an apology.
— Mika Brzezinski (@morningmika) April 29, 2018
Tonight’s #WHCD was a disgrace
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) April 29, 2018
Unfortunately, I don't think we advanced the cause of journalism tonight.
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) April 29, 2018
My wife @mercedesschlapp and I walked out early from the wh correspondents dinner. Enough of elites mocking all of us
— Matt Schlapp (@mschlapp) April 29, 2018
Spicer told The Guardian it was "absolutely disgusting" and "way over the line".
"There's a lot of people on that dais from the media that need to answer for that," he said. "The White House Correspondents' Association needs to answer for that. That was disgusting. The idea that viewers at home listened to that. I think they have a very distorted view for what the first amendment's all about. There are a lot of reporters on that dais that brought her here that should answer for that."
Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci said that — while he has "enormous respect" for White House Correspondents' Association's (WHCA) president Margaret Talev, she owes Ms Sanders an apology.
"It would have been very nice if (Sanders) was given an apology, given what happened," he said on CNN.
He also said he was happy Mr Trump did not attend, saying the President might have walked out too.
"That would have been even more devastating to the tension that is going on between the White House and the press."
Ms Talev subsequently issued a statement on the WHCA's Twitter page, acknowledging "concerns" over the comedian's speech.
"Last night's program was meant to offer a unifying message about our common commitment to a vigorous and free press while honoring civility, great reporting and scholarship winners, not to divide people," she said. "Unfortunately, the entertainer's monologue was not in the spirit of that mission."
#WHCA Statement to Members on Annual Dinner pic.twitter.com/8DKoHNxpNi
— WHCA (@whca) April 30, 2018
Washington-based comedian Tim Young suggested mockery of Mr Trump would only fuel support for him in the next election.
FYI: The hatred and divisiveness coming out tonight toward Trump/Sarah Sanders thanks to Michelle Wolf's #WHCD monologue is why Trump will win again in 2020.
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) April 29, 2018
But a number of other commentators believed the roast was fair game.
The more I think about it, the more impressed I am that Michelle Wolf did such a harsh act WITHOUT insulting any woman's looks. She aimed straight at the white female enforcers & never once suggested that anyone was a bimbo or a dog—like the man they work for surely would have.
— Emily Nussbaum (@emilynussbaum) April 29, 2018
Actor Kumail Nanjiani defended Wolf, saying she was merely calling out the Trump administration on its history of racist and discriminatory remarks.
Others noted the President's history with claims of sexual assault.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders works for, lies for, a guy accused of sexually assaulting more than a dozen women, one of whom he suggested he couldn’t have assaulted because she wasn’t good looking enough. Yet we’re supposed to have a pity party for SHS because of a #WHCD roast? Really?
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) April 29, 2018
Compare what @michelleisawolf and @realDonaldTrump both said tonight and and ask yourself which one was less factual and more dangerous than the other ... go ahead, I’ll wait. https://t.co/gtZeialLkn
— Moe Davis (@ColMorrisDavis) April 29, 2018
Wolf defended herself on Twitter, claiming she was "complimenting" the Press Secretary's makeup and "ingenuity of materials".
Why are you guys making this about Sarah’s looks? I said she burns facts and uses the ash to create a *perfect* smoky eye. I complimented her eye makeup and her ingenuity of materials. https://t.co/slII9TYdYx
— Michelle Wolf (@michelleisawolf) April 29, 2018
Hey mags! All these jokes were about her despicable behavior. Sounds like you have some thoughts about her looks though? 😘 https://t.co/JRzzvhBuey
— Michelle Wolf (@michelleisawolf) April 29, 2018
Thank you! https://t.co/0Nsx5ZBj8c
— Michelle Wolf (@michelleisawolf) April 29, 2018
During the 85-second roast, Ms Huckabee Sanders was repeatedly branded a liar and was likened to Aunt Lydia from The Handmaid's Tale — a character who indoctrinates women with the beliefs of the new society and forces them to accept their fates.
"And of course we have Sarah Huckabee Sanders. We are graced with her presence. I love you as Aunt Lydia in The Handmaid's Tale — Mike Pence if you haven't seen it you'd love it," Wolf began.
"Every time Sarah steps up to the podium I get excited because I'm not sure what we're going to get, a press briefing, a bunch of lies or divided into softball teams. It's shirts and skin and this time don't be such a little b**ch Jim Acosta.
"I really, really like Sarah. I think she's very resourceful. Like, she burns facts and then she uses that ash to create a perfect smoky eye. Like, maybe she's born with it, maybe it's lies. It's probably lies."
Ms Wolf labelled Ms Huckabee Sanders an "Uncle Tom" — a derogatory term for a subservient person based on the character from the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin.
She also likened the press secretary to conservative social and political commentator Ann Coulter.
"And I'm never really sure what to call Sarah Huckabee Sanders," she continued.
"You know, is it Sarah Sanders, is it Sarah Huckabee Sanders? Is it Cousin Huckabee, is it Auntie Huckabee Sanders?
"What's Uncle Tom for white women who disappoint other white women? Oh I know, it's Ann Coulter."
She also lashed out at Mr Trump with a series of sexual references.
On his absence, she referred to his infamous "grab 'em by the pussy" quote and said: "I would drag him here myself, but it turns out that the President of the United States is the one pussy you're not allowed to grab. He said it first. Yeah, he did. You remember? Good.
"Like a porn star says when she's about to have sex with a Trump, let's get this over with," she said, referring to the Stormy Daniels case. "It's 2018 and I am a woman so you cannot shut me up. Unless you have Michael Cohen wire me $130,000." Mr Cohen is Mr Trump's lawyer.
His daughter Ivanka also came into her line of fire.
"She was supposed to be an advocate for women, but it turns out she's about as helpful to women as an empty box of tampons. She's done nothing to satisfy women. So I guess, like father like daughter."
The audience could be heard mumbling uncomfortably, to which she added: "Oh, you don't think he's good in bed. Come on!
"She does clean up nice, though. Ivanka cleans up nice. She's the diaper genie of the administration. On the outside she looks sleek, but the inside, it's still full of s**t."
Analysis: 'The track record ... shows American involvement comes with tremendous risk.'