His desire to silence comic dissent raises the more sinister reason Trump is refusing to attend the WHCD. But there's also another possible reason Trump doesn't want to go. Simply put: Trump could never compete with Obama's comedy chops and Trump knows it. He knows his performance at the WHCD will be compared to former President Obama's performances, and that's very bad for Trump. Or the WHCD could mock Trump in absentia, possibly having a Trump blow up doll sit on the dais.

Source: CNN February 26, 2017 21:00 UTC