The White House Correspondents’ Association has decided to cancel the planned comedy performance at this year’s annual dinner due to disagreements with the Trump administration. Comedian Amber Ruffin, who was originally set to perform at the event, will no longer be appearing.

In a memo to members, the association stated that the dinner is intended to honor the work of journalists covering the White House, rather than focusing on controversial politics. This decision comes after the White House criticized Ruffin for her previous criticisms of President Donald Trump.

Taylor Budowich, the White House deputy chief of staff, dismissed the association’s choice to cancel Ruffin’s performance as a “cop out” and described Ruffin herself as a “hate-filled” individual. WHCA President Eugene Daniels had previously announced Ruffin as the headliner, stating that her unique talents are well-suited for the current political landscape.

Ruffin has recently criticized the Trump administration on her segments on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, including Trump’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico. The White House Correspondents’ Association has had several disagreements with the Trump administration in recent weeks, including the restriction of media coverage of certain events and the White House’s control over the press pool.

It is still unclear whether President Trump will attend this year’s correspondents’ dinner. Previous guest entertainers have included notable comedians like Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Conan O’Brien, and Jay Leno.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1wd7npdl4ro