White House correspondents dinner drops headliner amid Trump tensions

WASHINGTON: The White House Correspondents’ Association dropped the comedian who was to headline its annual dinner, the body said Saturday, amid tensions with US President Donald Trump, who has targeted multiple outlets over their coverage.

The comedian, Amber Ruffin, has previously criticized Trump and joked that no one would want to attend next month’s dinner with him.

A White House spokesman had criticized her and the WHCA over her appearance at the dinner, traditionally headlined by a comedian who makes fun of whoever was president at the time. WHCA president Eugene Daniels said in a Saturday email to members that the board unanimously decided that “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,” Daniels said.

He said he would give further details as the April 26 dinner nears. A White House spokesman called the decision “a cop out.”