Amber Ruffin will no longer host the 2025 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.
The WHCA has announced a change in the format of their annual fundraising gala. President Eugene Daniels revealed in a memo that there would no longer be a celebrity host, breaking away from tradition. The upcoming WHCD scheduled for Saturday, April 26 will reflect this alteration.
Journalist Brian Stelter reported on Daniels’ communication stating, “The WHCA board has unanimously decided we are no longer featuring a comedic performance this year.” Daniels emphasized the decision as an initiative to shift the focus away from divisive politics and towards recognizing journalistic achievements. Scholarships and mentorship programs for aspiring journalists are also key components of this refocused event.
Last month, it was announced that Ruffin, 46, would emcee the WHCD.
Previously, Daniels had expressed his enthusiasm for having comedian Amber host the dinner, praising her ability to blend incisive commentary with humor that encourages critical reflection on current issues. Despite this initial plan, the WHCA has decided to go in a different direction for this year’s event.
He added, “Amber’s unique talents are the ideal fit for this current political and cultural climate. Her perspective will fit right in with the dinner’s tradition of honoring the freedom of the press while roasting the most powerful people on all sides of the aisle and the journalists who cover them.”
The Have I Got News For You cohost, for her part, has not yet publicly addressed the WHCA’s decision to go hostless this year.
Ahead of the programming change, Ruffin joked she was “freaking out” about the gig during a Thursday, March 27, appearance on “The Daily Beast” podcast.
“I have my Google Docs open at all times for throwing jokes in there and little thoughts I’m having, but … we’re a little ways out,” Ruffin told podcast hosts Samantha Bee and Joanna Coles. “News is happening at such a freaking clip that how are we supposed to hit that moving target? Also, how could you forget any of this stuff happened, you know what I mean?”
When asked whether she expected President Donald Trump to attend, Ruffin succinctly said, “No, I don’t.”
“I honestly don’t think it’s an important thing to him in any way,” Ruffin said on Thursday, noting she was presently in the dark about the attendees. “I’m sure I will [get a rundown] at some point. I know the news organizations that will be attending. I don’t think the people confirm until quite a bit later.”
According to Ruffin, she was also instructed to keep any and all of her jokes fair and balanced.
