In brief
The White House Correspondents' Association has cancelled comedian Amber Ruffin's scheduled performance at this year's dinner following criticism from the Trump administration regarding her political commentary.
The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) has announced the cancellation of comedian Amber Ruffin's performance at the upcoming White House correspondents' dinner, which is set to take place next month. The decision comes after tensions arose with the Trump administration over Ruffin's past criticism of President Donald Trump. In a memo addressed to its members, the association emphasized a desire to shift the event's focus away from the "politics of division," stating that it aims to celebrate the important work of White House journalists instead. The commotion began when Taylor Budowich, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, expressed his discontent with the association's choice of Ruffin as a headliner, branding the decision "a cop out" and dismissing the WHCA as lacking accountability.Ruffin, known for her work on NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers," has become a vocal critic of the Trump presidency, particularly through segments that satirize his political decisions, including a recent mockery of his suggestion to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Eugene Daniels, the president of WHCA, had initially selected Ruffin, citing her talents as a fitting match for the current cultural and political landscape.The relationship between the Trump administration and the WHCA has been strained, with recent skirmishes involving restrictions on press coverage and attempts by the White House to exert control over the press pool of journalists. It remains uncertain whether President Trump will attend this year's correspondents' dinner, a gathering that traditionally features performances by prominent entertainers such as Jon Stewart, Conan O'Brien, and Stephen Colbert.
