Karoline Leavitt Won't Attend White House Correspondents' Association Dinner

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has announced she will skip the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner slated for April 26.

Leavitt revealed her decision during an appearance on Sean Spicer's podcast, branding it as breaking news for 'The Sean Spicer Show.' She stated, "I will not be in attendance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner," signaling a clear departure from tradition.

Criticizing the WHCA as having evolved into a "monetized monopoly over the White House and the coverage of the president of the United States," Leavitt didn’t hold back. According to her, the digital age has shifted media priorities, making some of the organization's practices feel outdated.

She further expressed frustration with the exclusivity of the WHCA, claiming that it hasn’t welcomed independent and new media journalists with open arms. In response, the White House has started a new process to broaden access, allowing more voices to be part of the daily press pool rotation. Leavitt disclosed that over 15,000 applications have been received for the new media seat in the press briefing room—a staggering figure that underscores the high demand for access to the president.

The changes initiated by the Trump administration have caused friction with the WHCA. Eugene Daniels, Politico correspondent and president of the WHCA board, criticized the move, saying it undermines the independence of the press. Meanwhile, the White House defended the decision as a modernization effort aimed at democratizing coverage beyond legacy media outlets.

Notably, the administration has also barred the Associated Press from the press pool for ignoring Trump's executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. This ban, temporarily upheld in court, further illustrates the tumultuous relationship between the White House and some media organizations.

In a twist of irony, Trump himself didn’t attend the WHCA dinner during his first term, and this year’s event will be headlined by comedian Amber Ruffin, who has made it clear she doesn’t expect—or particularly want—the president to make an appearance. Ruffin told CNN that while tradition might suggest Trump should attend, "no one wants" him there.

The WHCA dinner, a historic event blending politics and entertainment, may be losing its luster as tensions between the media and the administration continue to escalate.