White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to skip correspondents dinner

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has announced that she will not be attending the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner scheduled for April 26. Leavitt made this declaration during a podcast appearance with former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, who served during the early months of President Donald Trump’s administration.

In her podcast appearance, Leavitt criticized the WHCA, accusing the organization of being a “monetized monopoly” that controls the coverage of the president of the United States. She expressed her belief that the priorities of the media have shifted in the digital age and that the WHCA has not been inclusive of new media and independent journalists.

Leavitt revealed that the White House has received over 15,000 applications for the new media seat in the press briefing room, highlighting the importance of expanding coverage and allowing a diverse range of voices to participate in presidential press events.

The White House recently made the decision to select which journalists would be part of the 13-member pool covering President Trump in limited spaces, such as the Oval Office or Air Force One. This departure from the traditional practice of the WHCA independently selecting news outlets has drawn criticism from the organization, with President Eugene Daniels stating that it threatens the independence of a free press in the United States.

Despite the controversy surrounding the selection process for the press pool, Leavitt emphasized the importance of modernizing the coverage of the presidency and providing opportunities for new voices to participate in White House press events.

President Trump has chosen not to attend the WHCA annual dinner during his first term, and comedian Amber Ruffin has been selected to headline this year’s event. Ruffin has expressed the sentiment that while no one wants Trump to attend, he should still make an appearance at the dinner, which is traditionally attended by the president and the first lady.

In conclusion, Leavitt’s decision to skip the WHCA dinner reflects the ongoing tensions between the White House and the press corps. The debate over press access and coverage continues to be a point of contention, with both sides advocating for a more inclusive and transparent media environment.