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2025 White House Correspondents’ Dinner Highlights Press Challenges Without Trump or Comedian

The annual event shifted focus to celebrating journalism and First Amendment advocacy as tensions with the Trump administration escalate.

President of the White House Correspondents' Association Eugene Daniels poses for photographers as he arrives at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Pro-Palestinian protesters rally outside the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Eugene Daniels attends the 2025 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 26, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Overview

  • President Donald Trump skipped the dinner for the fourth time, continuing his contentious relationship with the press and attending Pope Francis's funeral in Rome instead.
  • The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) canceled comedian Amber Ruffin’s performance, prioritizing journalism awards and scholarships over political division.
  • WHCA President Eugene Daniels emphasized the press’s resilience, stating members are ‘tested, attacked’ but committed to holding the powerful accountable.
  • The Trump administration’s recent restrictions on press access, including banning the Associated Press and reshuffling pool assignments, were a major backdrop to the event.
  • The dinner, traditionally a star-studded affair, saw reduced celebrity presence and a more subdued tone, reflecting the challenges facing journalism today.