Politics

WHCA Drops Anti-Trump Comedian From Correspondents’ Dinner

Published

4 days ago

March 30, 2025

The White House Correspondents Association announced Saturday that far-left comedian and activist Amber Ruffin — who recently asked when people will “riot” over Elon Musk’s cost-cutting efforts — will no longer be hosting its annual dinner on April 26.

In a letter to members Saturday, WHCA President Eugene Daniels wrote that “the WHCA board has unanimously decided we are no longer featuring a comedic performance this year. 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.”

The decision to revoke Ruffin’s hosting privileges reportedly came after White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich rose concerns about her past anti-Trump comments. In one social media post from last February, she claimed that “nobody wants” Trump to attend the event.

According to a recent report from the Daily Beast, Ruffin intended to refer to the administration as a “bunch of murderers.”

“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,” Budowich wrote in a social media post alongside Ruffin. “What kind of responsible, sensible journalist would attend something like this? More importantly, what kind of company would sponsor such as hate-filled and violence-inspiring event?”

President Trump, who skipped the dinners in his first term rather than listen to political screeds from activist comedians, was unlikely to attend the event.

Ruffin has a history of deviating from comedy in favor of far-left activism. After Wisconsin teenager Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted for defending himself against violent rioters during the Jacob Blake riots in 2020, Ruffin lashed out at the jury and the “racist” judge overseeing the case in a monologue for her “comedy” show. Throughout the monologue, Ruffin’s voice quivered as she described her “responsibility to say things that people need to know that aren’t being said.”

“There are very big obvious truths that no one wants to say on TV, but I will,” she said. “I can’t believe I have to say this but…,” the left-wing comedian continued before tearing up. “It’s not OK for a man to grab a gun, travel across state lines, shoot three people and walk free. It’s not OK for the judicial system to be blatantly and obviously stacked against people of color. It’s not OK for there to be an entirely different set of rules for white people,” Ruffin continued.

The monologue was exceptionally bizarre considering the fact that all three rioters shot by Rittenhouse were white. Ruffin also appeared to have skipped the trial, as Rittenhouse’s defense team was able to clearly illustrate that Rittenhouse was attacked with overwhelming video evidence.

“But I don’t care about Kyle Rittenhouse. I don’t care about that racist judge. I don’t care about how f—– up that jury must be. White people have been getting away with murder since time began. I don’t care about that. I care about you. And I can’t believe I have to say this but: You matter. You matter,” Ruffin added.

Just last week, Ruffin generated controversy over a “joke” made on CNN’s fledgling late night comedy show. “When do we… riot,” Ruffin said in reference to Elon Musk’s involvement with the Trump Administration. After a handful of laughs, the crowd largely erupted into applause.

Ruffin’s removal comes as the Trump Administration has been making several tweaks to the WHCA, which plays a major role in organizing reporter rotations, seating charts and other logistical factors in the briefing room.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced in February that the White House would be taking over the pool reporter rotation, which gives the administration the power to decide which reporters will gain access to Trump’s trips and covering pooled-only White House events. The White House has also banned the Associated Press from the White House pool after the outlet refused to go along with Trump’s decision to rename the Gulf of America.