WASHINGTON >> White House staff will be skipping this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner along with President Donald Trump.

The White House Correspondents’ Association announced Tuesday evening that they have been informed staff would not be attending out of “solidarity” with the president. Trump previously announced his intention to skip the annual dinner.

The board says in a statement that it “regrets this decision very much,” but that the event will go on as planned.

The annual fundraising dinner, which raises money for college scholarships, typically draws a mix of politicians, journalists, celebrities, as well as the president and first lady. Top White House staff members typically attend, often as guests of media organizations.