Tonight’s White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) Dinner in Washington, D.C. is a gala dedicated to celebrating the First Amendment and the role of a free press. The annual event – held this year at the Washington Hilton – serves as a major fundraiser for journalism scholarships and programs that champion press freedoms.

Notably, former President Donald Trump is again skipping the dinner, marking the fourth consecutive year he has absent himself from this once-traditional presidential appearance. In contrast, President Biden – whose first-year dinner was canceled by the pandemic – has attended every dinner of his presidency so far.

With no president and no comedian on the program, the evening’s spotlight firmly falls on journalists themselves and the First Amendment. WHCA President Eugene Daniels opened the dinner by acknowledging an extremely difficult year for the press and emphasizing the organization’s mission to honor journalistic excellence and independent reporting.

Evening Highlights

• Opening Remarks: WHCA President Eugene Daniels formally kicks off the dinner, praising the press’s role in holding power accountable and recalling past presidents’ support of a free press.

• No President, No Roast: For the first time in years, there will be no presidential address or traditional comedy roast of the president. Amber Ruffin’s scheduled comedy set was canceled earlier this spring, and the organizers have refocused the event away from political satire.

• Press Freedom Focus: Instead, the program highlights journalism. A video montage features presidents from Reagan to Biden speaking about the importance of a free press. The dinner is meant to honor journalistic excellence and a robust, independent media.

• Awards and Scholarships: The dinner includes presentations of the WHCA’s professional journalism awards and announces scholarship recipients. Each year, the event raises significant funds for student journalism scholarships and other WHCA initiatives.

Journalists and Guests

Despite the scaled-back tone, the Washington Hilton ballroom remains bustling. The venue is packed with journalists, newsmakers, and a few celebrities. On the red carpet, top correspondents from across the media world gather: CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and Dana Bash, Fox News’s Kaitlan Collins, NBC’s Jeff Zeleny, and many others.

The atmosphere mixes serious purpose with socializing — reporters in tuxedos and gowns catching up on the year’s biggest stories while looking forward to speeches, panel discussions, and lighthearted moments still on the schedule. Attendees expect strong reflections on press freedom during a year marked by tensions between the media and political figures.

Watch Live

Viewers and supporters of the free press can follow the action in real time. Major outlets are streaming the event tonight: C-SPAN is covering the red carpet from 6 p.m. ET and the main program from 8 p.m. ET. Cable networks and the WHCA’s own platforms are also broadcasting the highlights.

Tune in to watch journalists honor the First Amendment and experience one of Washington’s most anticipated media nights of the year.