Trump Press Sec. Skipping Key Dinner
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has confirmed that she will not be attending the upcoming White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner set for April 26. Leavitt made the announcement on the Sean Spicer Show, hosted by former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, revealing that her decision was final.
“I will not be attending the WH Correspondent dinner. And that is the big story for the Sean Spicer Show,” Leavitt said, signaling her decision to skip the event this year.
This statement comes just weeks after Leavitt had left the door open to attending. Back in February, the youngest person ever to hold the White House press secretary position had shared that she had received an invitation from the president’s office but had not yet discussed it with President Biden. At that time, she hinted she might attend depending on the president’s decision, adding, “When he makes his decision, I’ll let you know.”
The dinner, a Washington tradition, will feature comedian Amber Ruffin as the entertainment this year. Ruffin, a former writer for “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” has been known for her sharp political commentary, including jabs at former President Donald Trump. She made headlines in an interview when she claimed that “no one” wanted to see Trump at the high-profile event. Her remarks were met with criticism, especially from conservative circles, as she dismissed the idea of Trump’s participation, mocking the event as a “cool thing” he’d be missing out on.
Leavitt’s decision to skip the dinner also follows a controversial move by the White House last month, where they announced that they would select which journalists are included in the pool of reporters covering the president, a departure from the traditional role of the WHCA. This decision sparked outrage among press freedom advocates and media organizations, which accused the administration of attempting to limit the scope of independent media coverage.
President Trump, in contrast, made headlines during his time in office by opting out of the WHCA dinners, continuing his break with Washington traditions. By deciding to skip the event again, Leavitt’s actions reflect a larger sentiment within the Republican Party of distancing themselves from what many see as a liberal-leaning media establishment.
