The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) announced Saturday it has canceled comedian Amber Ruffin's scheduled appearance at its annual dinner, marking a departure from the event's longstanding tradition of featuring comedic performances.
WHCA President Eugene Daniels said the board unanimously decided to forgo a comedian at this year's April 26 dinner in Washington, D.C. The decision comes less than two months after the organization had praised Ruffin as "the ideal fit for this current political and cultural climate."
"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 stated in an email to members.
The cancellation occurs amid heightened tensions between the White House press corps and the Trump administration. Recently, the White House announced it would bypass the WHCA and manage the press pool independently, departing from decades of established practice.
Taylor Budowich, White House deputy chief of staff, criticized the WHCA's decision as a "cop out" on social media platform X, describing Ruffin as "hate-filled."
The annual black-tie dinner, which began in 1921, traditionally features prominent comedians, with past performers including Trevor Noah, Roy Wood Jr., and Colin Jost. In 2019, the event departed from tradition by featuring historian Ron Chernow instead of a comedian.
Representatives for Ruffin, an Emmy and Tony-nominated comedian and writer for NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers, have not yet commented on the cancellation.
The dinner has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years, with demonstrators staging protests outside the venue over various issues, including the war in Gaza in 2024 and fossil fuel drilling in 2023.