In an unexpected departure from tradition, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on March 14, 2025, that she will not attend the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner next month.
This decision reflects the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and the White House press corps, a group of journalists who provide daily coverage of the president and his administration. These journalists attend briefings, travel with the president, and work for a variety of media outlets.
“I will not be attending the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and that is breaking news,” Leavitt said during an appearance on Friday’s episode of The Sean Spicer Podcast, hosted by her predecessor and longtime Trump ally, Sean Spicer.
According to Reuters News, the WHCA dinner, scheduled for April 26, is widely regarded as Washington’s Oscars—an annual bipartisan event featuring comedy and charitable initiatives. Except for Donald Trump, every President of the United States has attended at least once since its inception in 1924.
Leavitt’s decision highlights the administration’s strained relationship with the media, adding to the long-running feud between Trump and the White House press corps.
