The 2025 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, scheduled for April 26 at the Washington Hilton, will not feature its usual headlining comedian. This decision follows the removal of Amber Ruffin in March due to her critical remarks about the Trump administration, which drew backlash from White House staffers. Association President Eugene Daniels emphasized that the focus should be on honoring journalistic excellence rather than political divisiveness.
Ruffin, in a recent appearance on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” humorously reflected on her dismissal, stating that a free press should critique government actions, especially when rights are undermined. President Trump will once again skip the dinner, a pattern that began during his first term when he encouraged a boycott among White House officials. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also expressed discontent with the association, suggesting it monopolizes presidential coverage.
The dinner serves as a fundraiser for the association’s First Amendment scholarships and aims to unite media figures and celebrities in a celebratory atmosphere, despite recent tensions within the association. This year poses challenges, particularly with the loss of control of the White House press pool, which has made it difficult for the association to fulfill its journalistic responsibilities.
The event will be covered live by C-SPAN, starting with red carpet arrivals at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the dinner at 8 p.m. ET. The proceedings will be streamed on C-SPAN’s website and app, allowing broader access to the proceedings amidst the current media landscape’s complexities.
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