White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has announced her decision to forgo attending the annual White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) dinner, scheduled for late April.
This revelation was made during her appearance on the "Sean Spicer Show," hosted by Sean Spicer, who previously served as President Trump's first press secretary. "I will not be in attendance at the White House Correspondents dinner and thats breaking news for the Sean Spicer Show," Leavitt declared, marking a notable decision in the context of her role.
As reported by The Hill, Leavitt, who holds the distinction of being the youngest individual to serve as White House press secretary, had initially indicated in early February that the possibility of attending the April 26 event at the Washington Hilton had not been dismissed. "I have the Presidents invitation on my desk. I have the invitation for myself on my desk as well. Havent talked to the President about it," she mentioned on February 5. She further elaborated, "When he makes his decision, I will let you all know. But definitely an interesting choice of a comedian. Ill talk to the boss and see what we decide."
The WHCA had previously announced on February 4 that comedian Amber Ruffin would headline the event as the evening's entertainer. WHCA President Eugene Daniels praised Ruffin, stating, "She has the ability to walk the line between blistering commentary and humor all while provoking her audience to think about the important issues of the day. Im thrilled and honored she said yes."
Ruffin, known for her work on NBCs Late Night with Seth Meyers, has previously made jokes about President Trump. In a CNN interview, she remarked, "I mean, sure its something to do," and added, "I cant imagine he would [attend]. He should. Hes missing out on one of the cool things about being the president of the United States. But I dont know that anyones looking forward to being in the same room as him."
Leavitt's decision to skip the dinner coincides with a recent announcement from the White House, indicating a shift in the process of selecting journalists to cover the President. The administration has decided to assume this responsibility, a move that has drawn criticism from the WHCA and various press freedom organizations. This decision reflects a broader trend of the current administration's approach to media relations, which has often been at odds with traditional practices.
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