The 2025 dinner will not have its traditional headlining comedian as the association removed Amber Ruffin in March following critical Trump comments.

A White House correspondents’ dinner that lacks the traditional comedy act doesn’t necessarily translate to a more somber-than-usual evening. In 2019, the historian Ron Chernow gave a lecture and everyone had a pretty decent time; in 2003, Ray Charles sang instead. Hard to imagine that was anything less than a treat for guests.