U.S. President Donald Trump — who regularly launches lawsuits and verbal tirades against news outlets and journalists he dislikes — will be the featured guest at Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, an annual gala celebrating freedom of the press.

It’s the first time Trump will attend the event as president.

The association’s decision to welcome him is drawing sharp criticism and prompting concern about the potential impact on public perception of the news media that cover the White House.

Six national journalism advocacy groups say Trump has engaged in “the most systematic and comprehensive assault on freedom of the press by a sitting American president.”

That assault, according to a lengthy list compiled by the groups, has included trying to ban journalists from reporting any defence-related news without Pentagon approval, launching federal investigations into major broadcast outlets over their coverage and suing the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the parent company of CBS News for alleged defamation.