The decision follows criticism from the White House over Ruffin’s past anti-Trump statements. Prominent comedians, including Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert, have traditionally performed at the dinner.
“The WHCA board has unanimously decided we are no longer featuring a comedic performance this year,” WHCA president Eugene Daniels wrote in an email Saturday afternoon to members, adding that the event’s “focus is not on the politics of division” but rather on honoring the work of members.
White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich slammed the association for its choice of Ruffin on Friday, which it announced in early February.
“This year’s @whca dinner will be hosted by a 2nd rate comedian who is previewing the event by calling this administration ‘murderers’ who want to ‘feel like human beings, but they shouldn’t get to feel that way, because you’re not’ What kind of responsible, sensible journalist would attend something like this?” he said in a post on X. “More importantly, what kind of company would sponsor such as hate-filled and violence-inspiring event?”
Budowich highlighted a Daily Beast podcast episode featuring Ruffin, in which she offered blunt criticism of the administration. Host Samantha Bee, a comedian herself, asked Ruffin what she knew about who from the administration would be attending. Ruffin said she didn’t know, but that she may find out later on.
“I’m not 100% interested in ‘ha, here you look at your stupid head, you’re burned.’ I care that like you’re kinda a bunch of murderers,” Ruffin said. She recounted that she was told to be “equal” to both sides, but said “there was no way” she was going to do that.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said she will not attend the event. President Donald Trump is not expected to attend because he never did during his first term and has had an adversarial relationship with the WHCA.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said she will not attend the event. President Donald Trump is not expected to attend, as he did not during his first term and has had an adversarial relationship with the WHCA. Ruffin previously said she did not want to see Trump at the dinner.
TRACKING WHAT DOGE IS DOING ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
A key aspect of the strained relationship between the White House and the WHCA is the administration’s control over the process of selecting who will cover the president. It has also clashed with the Associated Press over its refusal to recognize the Gulf of America.
With no comedian headliner, it is unclear who will host in Ruffin’s place. This will be only the second time since 2000, in a non-pandemic year, that the dinner will not have a comedian.
