CNN commentator gives Trump credit for attending WHCA dinner before blasting his speech as 'mean and small'

CNN commentator Van Jones offered words of unlikely praise to President Donald Trump amid his attendance at the rescheduled White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) Dinner.During the network’s coverage of the event, anchor John Berman noted to viewers that the journalists’ awards would be handed out before Trump took to the podium to deliver his speech — a schedule change that was not in effect on April 25 when the dinner was originally planned."The president was going to speak first, then the awards.

So he could have left, in theory, if he wanted to," Berman said before tossing to Jones. "This time, he’s going to have to sit through and watch awards being given to reporters who report on him, maybe in ways he doesn’t like. One wonders how he might feel about that."

JOURNALISTS DEMAND WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' ASSOCIATION 'SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER' IN NEW DINNER WITH TRUMPJones replied by pointing out that Trump should receive recognition for remaining to watch journalists who often provide coverage that disagrees with his administration."You really do have to give President Trump credit tonight," Jones said. "I mean, we were saying he was going to basically do his thing and run away.""

He’s not running away," Jones added. "He’s going to be there. And maybe someone will have the courage to speak up [against him].

Maybe they won’t. But he’s putting himself in harm’s way in that regard."TRUMP SPARES NO ONE AT WHCA DINNER, TAKING AIM AT DEMS, PRESS AND HIS OWN CABINETFox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.

The dinner was rescheduled from its April 25 date after a gunman stormed the security perimeter and fired a shot in an attempt to assassinate the president.Following Trump’s remarks at the event, in which he poked fun at members of the press while candidly addressing his relationship with the media, Jones offered a harsh rebuke to the president’s comments.HERE'S WHAT YOU MISSED FROM TRUMP'S FIRST WHCA DINNER AS PRESIDENT: 5 TAKEAWAYS FROM HIS NIG