President Donald Trump will not be attending this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, a White House official confirmed. This decision follows Trump’s previous practice of not attending the event during his earlier term in office.
The president’s absence occurs as tensions rise between the administration and the White House press corps. The Trump administration’s actions have raised concerns over press freedom and access, particularly after taking over the coordination of the press corps’ rotating reporter pool in February, a role traditionally managed by the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA).
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has also stated she will not be attending the dinner, as reported by Deseret News. The event, which typically provides an informal opportunity for journalists and government officials to interact, has become more contentious during Trump’s presidency.
The WHCA dinner faced further controversy with the association’s cancellation of comedian Amber Ruffin’s scheduled appearance. The decision followed criticism from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich, who labeled Ruffin a “second-rate comedian” and criticized her past comments about the administration.
WHCA president Eugene Daniels explained, “We want to ensure the focus is not on the politics of division.” Daniels emphasized the association’s preference for highlighting journalists’ achievements and supporting scholarships for future reporters.
Comedian Michelle Wolf, known for her controversial performance in 2018, criticized the WHCA’s choice. Wolf claimed the association prioritized maintaining White House access over allowing comedians to critique journalism.
The Trump administration has enacted several measures alarming press freedom advocates. Recently, the White House has barred Associated Press reporters from pooled events and press conferences due to the AP’s refusal to use the term “Gulf of America” in place of “Gulf of Mexico.”
Following these restrictions, the AP filed a lawsuit, and a federal judge ruled that the White House’s actions violated the First Amendment. Despite the ruling, the administration continues limiting AP’s access, leading the wire service to accuse the White House of ignoring the court order.
As of April 18, 2025, the AP has not been fully reinstated to the White House press pool. An April 17 hearing saw the appeals court express skepticism regarding the administration’s arguments, yet no ruling has been issued.
While AP reporters have attended some events, such as an East Room gathering on April 15, they remain excluded from others, including selected Oval Office events. The situation is ongoing as legal proceedings continue.
In response to the court ruling, the White House recently announced changes to the press pool structure. The new guidelines eliminate dedicated positions for wire services, such as the AP, Reuters, and Bloomberg, requiring them to compete for two general print media slots alongside other outlets. This change reduces their regular access to the president.
The WHCA has criticized these changes, stating, “The government should not be able to control the independent media that covers it.” The association highlighted the crucial role wire services play in White House coverage, as they provide nonpartisan reporting relied upon by many local news outlets.
Media experts view these actions as part of a broader strategy to limit scrutiny and favor outlets providing favorable coverage. The administration’s moves are seen as efforts to sideline mainstream media.
The White House defends its actions, asserting that new guidelines ensure pool eligibility regardless of editorial viewpoints. Critics argue that removing the established structure for wire services allows the administration more control over which journalists can question the president.
While the WHCA has offered discussions to accommodate more diverse media outlets in the press pool, the administration appears determined to implement its system. This ongoing tension is underscored by the president’s absence at this month’s correspondents’ dinner.
