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The White House Correspondents Dinner takes place this weekend, without a headlining comedian nor Donald Trump in attendance. Still, there should be plenty to tune in for as the media and politicians gather together for the annual mixer.
The White House Correspondents Association‘s (WHCA) annual dinner will take place at DC’s Washington Hilton Saturday, April 26 at at 6 p.m. ET. The dinner will be broadcast live on most major news outlets such as CBS News, ABC News, NBC News and CNN. But cable-cutters can stream the event on a variety of Live TV streamers such as DirecTV (currently offering a 5-day free trial here).
You can also stream the NBC News coverge on Peacock and and a CBS feed on Paramount+, the latter currently offering a 7-day free trial.
While it’s been customary in years past for the sitting president to attend the event and be roasted by a hosting comedian, Trump will sit out the event just as he did for his first term. Meanwhile, comedian Amber Ruffin, who was set to MC the dinner, was pulled from the lineup after a White House deputy chief of staff raised comments Ruffin has made in the past that are critical of Trump.
“The WHCA board has unanimously decided 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,” WHCA president Eugene Daniels wrote to members in a statement.
The WHCA dinner often spurs lots of media attention with comedians ranging from Seth Meyers to Roy Wood Jr. who use their time in the limelight to point jabs at both the president and press corps in the room.
The absence of a comedian means this year’s dinner will be a much lower-key affair and will very likely bring fewer eyeballs to the broadcast.
Stream the White House Correspondents Dinner live online below: