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The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) has announced that comedian Amber Ruffin will no longer perform at its annual dinner, citing a renewed focus on journalistic excellence.
The decision, announced over the weekend, comes just days after Ruffin made controversial remarks about the Trump administration during an appearance on The Daily Beast’s podcast.
Ruffin, a former Peacock talk show host and writer for NBC’s Seth Meyers, described Trump’s White House as “kind of a bunch of murderers” and criticized WHCA expectations that her jokes should target politicians across party lines.
While the WHCA’s statement did not reference these comments directly, the move has sparked speculation that her remarks influenced the decision.
WHCA President Calls for Focus on Journalism
WHCA President Eugene Daniels explained the decision in a statement, emphasizing the importance of journalism at this moment in history.
“At this consequential moment for journalism, I want to ensure the focus is not on the politics of division but entirely on awarding our colleagues for their outstanding work and providing scholarship and mentorship to the next generation of journalists.”
Daniels, who is also an MSNBC host, noted that he had been planning a “re-envisioning” of the dinner for weeks.
Trump Administration Responds
Ruffin’s comments sparked backlash from the Trump administration, though the president himself is not expected to attend the April event.
Trump has frequently clashed with the press, and in previous years, his absence from the event has been seen as a rejection of the tradition of political satire at the dinner.
A Shift Away from Comedy?
The last time the WHCA excluded a comedian from the annual dinner was in 2019, when historian Ron Chernow spoke instead. However, previous years have featured high-profile comedians such as Stephen Colbert and Colin Jost.
By removing Ruffin from the lineup, the WHCA signals a broader shift away from political comedy, opting instead to highlight the role of journalism in democracy.
The decision raises questions about whether future correspondents’ dinners will continue to feature comedians or if the event is moving permanently toward a more serious tone.
