“Trump to Sit Out White House Correspondents’ Dinner for Fifth Consecutive Year”
April 26, 2025 – President Donald J. Trump has officially confirmed that he will once again be absent from the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD), marking his fifth straight decision to skip the high‑profile gathering of journalists, comedians, and Washington insiders. In a brief statement circulated through the White House press office, the President cited longstanding tensions with the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) and expressed his intention to continue alternative programming in lieu of attending the dinner.
A Tradition Frayed: The Origins and Evolution of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Since its inception in 1921, the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has served as more than a formal dinner party—it has become a cornerstone event in Washington’s social calendar. Originally conceived as a convivial gathering of White House reporters and presidents, the dinner evolved over the decades into a star‑studded affair featuring Hollywood celebrities, award‑winning journalists, and an evening of roast‑style comedy.
The Dinner’s Purpose
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Journalistic Fellowship: At its core, the WHCD was intended to celebrate and support the work of journalists covering the White House. Proceeds from the event fund scholarships for aspiring reporters.
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Presidential Accessibility: By inviting the President to mingle with the press corps in a relaxed setting, the dinner historically offered a rare opportunity for candid exchanges between the head of state and those who scrutinize his administration.
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Entertainment and Satire: In modern times, the WHCD has become synonymous with a televised comedy routine in which a headline comedian mercilessly lampoons both the President and members of the press.
However, in recent years, the dinner has increasingly drawn criticism from both sides of the political aisle. Some regard it as an over‑the‑top spectacle that blurs the line between news and entertainment; others argue it has become an echo chamber for partisan perspectives disguised as humor.
Trump’s First‑Term Boycott and the “Fake News Awards”
From the outset of his presidency in January 2017, President Trump signaled his disapproval of the mainstream media—and by extension, the WHCA. He declined invitations to the dinner each year of his first term, opting instead to host his own “Fake News Awards.”
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Rationale: Trump framed the dinner’s comedic roasts and celebrity glamour as emblematic of a media establishment that, in his view, routinely misrepresented and maligned his administration.
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Fake News Awards: Held at the White House, these awards highlighted what the President labeled the “most egregious” instances of inaccuracy or bias in mainstream news outlets. The events were livestreamed, generating both fervent support from his base and sharp criticism from opponents.
By forgoing the WHCD and staging his own counter‑programming, Trump effectively turned the dinner into a televised battleground for the broader “war on fake news” he waged throughout his administration.
The Ongoing Rift: Administration vs. White House Correspondents’ Association
President Trump’s latest decision to skip the dinner underscores a deeper, long‑running conflict between the Administration and the WHCA. That tension has manifested in several concrete actions over the past year:
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Control of the Pool Reporter Rotation
In February, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the Administration would assume direct control over the “pool reporter” rotation—determining which journalists are granted access to cover the President’s trips and other pooled‑only events. Historically, the press corps itself managed these rotations to ensure fairness. By seizing that authority, the Administration asserted greater discretion over media access. -
Barred Access for the Associated Press
The White House recently revoked the Associated Press’s pool privileges after the news agency declined to endorse Trump’s proposal to rename the “Gulf of America.” This unprecedented move strained relations with one of the country’s most venerable news organizations and raised concerns about media independence. -
Criticisms of Partisanship at the Dinner
In Leavitt’s view, the WHCD has become a forum for “left‑wing activism masquerading as comedy.” The Administration contends that certain speakers and performers have used the platform to deliver overtly partisan messages rather than lighthearted satire.
Taken together, these developments illustrate a fundamental breakdown in trust between the White House and the correspondents who cover it—a breakdown that culminates each spring when the President conspicuously bypasses the dinner invitation.
A Historic Flashpoint: Obama’s 2011 Monologue and Trump’s Reaction
Many interpret President Trump’s boycott through the lens of a memorable moment from the WHCD’s recent past. In April 2011, then‑President Barack Obama delivered a now‑legendary opening monologue that included a lengthy gag at the expense of a billionaire‑turned‑political‑novice named Donald Trump, who was sitting in the audience.
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Obama’s Joke: “Donald [Trump] said he might run for President. Then he had a lottery to see which of his audience members would run,” Obama quipped, drawing sustained laughter.
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Parting Warning: The monologue concluded with a pointed warning: “Donald, look, if you’re here tonight, just remember—no matter how many Times best‑seller lists you top, no matter how many buildings you have with your name on them, you won’t be President.”
Trump later cited that segment as emblematic of a broader “elitist” attitude among Washington insiders and the press corps—an attitude he vowed to challenge by refusing to attend subsequent dinners.
Recent Controversy: Amber Ruffin’s Removed Headliner Slot
In advance of this year’s event, the WHCA initially announced that comedian Amber Ruffin would serve as the evening’s headliner. Ruffin, co‑writer on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers and star of her own Netflix series, has built a reputation for blending comedy with pointed political commentary.
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Commitment to Political Satire: Shortly after her announcement, Ruffin previewed a segment in which she would sharply criticize the current Administration, including remarks labeling government officials as “murderers” for policies she deemed inhumane.
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WHCA Reversal: Under pressure from conservative critics—and reportedly after private complaints from members of Congress—the WHCA rescinded Ruffin’s invitation as headliner, replacing her with a comedian deemed less politically charged.
The removal of Ruffin underscores the WHCA’s own dilemmas: balancing the tradition of irreverent comedy with the risk of alienating significant swaths of their own membership and political stakeholders.
Who Is Amber Ruffin? From Late‑Night Laughs to Political Activism
Amber Ruffin has earned acclaim for her incisive humor and fearless commentary on issues of race, gender, and social justice. Highlights of her career include:
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“The Amber Ruffin Show”: A late‑night series that mixed sketch comedy with interviews, often spotlighting underrepresented voices.
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Jacob Blake Commentary: In 2020, after the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse—who shot three men during protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake—Ruffin delivered an emotional monologue on Meyers condemning both the verdict and systemic racism.
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Activist Stance: Ruffin’s public persona transcends comedy; she has repeatedly used her platform to critique institutional injustices and champion progressive causes.
By initially selecting, then removing, Ruffin, the WHCA found itself at the center of a debate over whether the dinner should prioritize comedic talent or safe neutrality. Many journalists and free‑speech advocates decried the decision as censorship, while others applauded the move as necessary to preserve the dinner’s nonpartisan veneer.
Administration Pushback: “Hate‑Filled and Violence‑Inspiring”
A Trump Administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, characterized this year’s dinner in particularly harsh terms:
“This year’s WHCA dinner will be hosted by a second‑rate comedian who is previewing the event by calling this Administration ‘murderers’ and suggesting they don’t deserve basic human empathy. What kind of responsible, sensible journalist would attend something like this? And what kind of sponsor would back such a hate‑filled, violence‑inspiring event?”
Such rhetoric typifies the Administration’s broader strategy of framing mainstream press institutions as not merely critical but actively hostile and dangerous. Against this backdrop, the President’s repeated absences from the WHCD can be seen as both symbolic protest and strategic media positioning—an effort to energize his base around the theme of “media persecution.”
Cabinet‑Level Absences: A Unified Front of Non‑Attendance
President Trump is not alone in his refusal to attend the dinner. Several high‑profile Administration officials have likewise declined invitations:
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Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary: Leavitt—who spearheaded changes to press access and has defended the President’s media strategy—confirmed earlier this year that she, too, would be absent. On former Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s podcast, she argued that one of the dinner’s original purposes—pressuring Presidents to hold more news conferences—had been obviated by the current Administration’s frequent direct communications:
“They started this organization because Presidents weren’t taking enough questions. I don’t think we have that problem anymore under this President.”
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Other Cabinet Members: Several Cabinet secretaries and senior aides have cited scheduling conflicts or principled objections to the dinner’s tone and biases. Their unified non‑attendance highlights a cohesive narrative: the WHCD, in its current form, is no longer worth the political or reputational cost.
A Larger Political Context: “Party of the People” Shifts
Compounding the narrative of press versus President is a broader partisan realignment that has emerged under this Administration. A recent CNN segment featuring data analyst Harry Enten revealed an unexpected shift in public perceptions of which party best represents “people like you.”
Key Findings:
Tied Perceptions: For the first time in decades, Republicans and Democrats are tied on the question of which party cares more about average Americans.
Historic Trend: In previous years, Democrats held a consistent lead—13 points in 2017, 23 points in 2005, and 19 points even during the GOP‑friendly 1994 midterm elections.
Trade‑War Impact: Despite prolonged tariff disputes and trade‑tensions, voters now rate Republicans as equally attentive to their needs.
Host Kate Bolduan and Enten both expressed surprise at this data, noting that it runs counter to long‑standing assumptions about party affiliation and demographic support. The CNN report underscores a critical development: the political environment in which the WHCA must operate has become more complex, with traditional alliances and identities under strain.
Implications for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
President Trump’s absence—and the Administration’s broader media strategy—pose several questions for the future of the WHCD:
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Efficacy of Satire
Will comedy that directly targets the President or administration resonate with the broader public, or will it further polarize an already divided media landscape? -
Role of Press Institutions
With major news organizations barred from pool privileges and the WHCA under fire for perceived partisanship, how can the dinner reclaim its status as a neutral celebration of journalism? -
Political Theater vs. Journalistic Integrity
As political battles increasingly play out in staged events and viral videos, can the WHCD—and journalism more broadly—retain its gravitas amid the surge of infotainment? -
Sponsorship and Funding
Corporate sponsors, wary of controversy, may reconsider their support. This could jeopardize the dinner’s scholarship funding model and scholarship‑awarding mission. -
Future Presidential Participation
Should future Presidents choose to attend or skip the dinner based on political convenience, the event may lose its status as a genuine forum for accountability.
Looking Ahead: Rebuilding or Reinventing the Dinner?
In response to these challenges, several WHCA board members have proposed reforms:
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Rotating Headliners: Inviting a bipartisan slate of entertainers to avoid both extremes of political comedy.
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Audience Surveys: Polling attendees on performance choices and overall tone to guide future programming.
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Expanded Venue: Hosting smaller “pre‑dinners” focused on policy issues, separate from the main gala, to reinforce the event’s journalistic purpose.
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Transparency Pledges: Publicly committing to nonpartisan booking processes for both comedians and news panels.
Whether these reforms take hold depends in large part on the willingness of the White House to reengage. An invitation from the President to attend the dinner—even for a brief exchange—could signal a thaw in relations. Conversely, a continued boycott will solidify the dinner’s identity as an institution at odds with the current administration.
Conclusion
President Trump’s fifth consecutive absence from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is emblematic of a broader realignment in American politics and media. The long‑standing ritual designed to humanize the Presidency and celebrate journalism now serves as a lightning rod for charges of media bias, political grandstanding, and cultural division.
As the lunch plates are cleared and the lights dim on April 26, the dinner’s future will hang in the balance. Will it adapt to an era of deep skepticism toward both political and press institutions? Or will it remain a contentious annual ritual, forever defined by the very conflicts it once sought to transcend?
Only time—and the next invitation issued to the President—will tell.
Adrian Hawthorne is a celebrated author and dedicated archivist who finds inspiration in the hidden stories of the past. Educated at Oxford, he now works at the National Archives, where preserving history fuels his evocative writing. Balancing archival precision with creative storytelling, Adrian founded the Hawthorne Institute of Literary Arts to mentor emerging writers and honor the timeless art of narrative.