Remember when Hollywood celebrities and liberal comics could spew hateful rhetoric about conservatives and be rewarded with prestigious gigs? Think Kathy Griffin holding Trump’s bloody head, Stephen Colbert’s “holster” comments, or Jimmy Kimmel calling Republican viewers stupid every night. The media would just nod, applaud, and book them for the next big event. Case in point: Amber Ruffin, the latest “comedian” selected to host the White House Correspondents’ dinner, who once referred to Trump and his administration as “murderers” and called him a “gross president.” She even told CNN she planned to use anti-Trump sentiments throughout her performance.

That kind of crap would fly in the past, but not anymore. The Trump administration is different, America is different, and apparently even the media establishment is different. The days of consequence-free Trump-bashing seem to be fading faster than CNN’s ratings during a Trump rally.

Turns out, even the formerly Trump-hostile media has decided some lines shouldn’t be crossed. The White House Correspondents’ Association announced Saturday it has dropped Ruffin from hosting its annual dinner on April 26, citing a desire to avoid focusing on “the politics of division.”

From ‘Daily Caller’:

“The WHCA board has unanimously decided we are no longer featuring a comedic performance this year,” WHCA president Eugene Daniels announced in an email to the White House press corps. “At this consequential moment for journalism, I want to ensure that the focus is not on the politics of division but entirely on awarding our colleagues for their outstanding work and providing scholarship and mentorship to the next generation of journalists.”

The Punchline Backfires

In a move that would have been unthinkable during the previous administration, the WHCA’s board voted unanimously to remove Ruffin entirely rather than risk another Trump-bashing fest masquerading as comedy. This decision came after significant criticism from the Trump administration, particularly from Taylor Budowich, Trump White House deputy chief of staff.

Budowich didn’t mince words when he called out the WHCA on social media, asking, “What kind of responsible, sensible journalist would attend something like this? More importantly, what kind of company would sponsor such a hate-filled and violence-inspiring event?” He specifically referenced Ruffin’s history of calling administration officials “murderers” who want to “feel like human beings, but they shouldn’t get to feel that way.”

After the WHCA announced its change of plans, Budowich continued his criticism, calling their statement a “cop out.” The message, however, was received. The era of the WHCA dinner serving as a platform for liberal comedians to roast conservatives while fawning over Democrats appears to be over.

No Laughing Matter

It’s worth noting that President Trump didn’t attend the Association’s high-profile dinners during his first term and isn’t expected to attend in 2025 either. Current White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has also confirmed she “will not be in attendance.”

The decision to drop Ruffin marks a dramatic reversal from Daniels’s February 4 announcement naming the comedian as the dinner’s headliner. At that time, he praised Ruffin as having “the ability to walk the line between blistering commentary and humor all while provoking her audience to think about the important issues of the day.”

Apparently, the WHCA board realized that there’s a difference between “blistering commentary” and calling the President of the United States and his team “murderers” – a distinction that somehow eluded them during the initial selection process.

Media’s Awakening

The WHCA dinner has historically been a night when the president and the press could laugh at themselves and each other in good humor. In recent years, however, it had devolved into something closer to a Democratic Party fundraiser with jokes that weren’t jokes so much as thinly-veiled partisan attacks.

Last year’s event featured President Biden alongside “Saturday Night Live” comedian Colin Jost, who questioned why President Trump was polling close to Biden despite Biden’s supposedly “strong economy.” The whole affair had become so politically charged that anti-Israel protesters showed up outside yelling “Shame on you” and calling President Biden “genocide Joe.”

What’s remarkable about the Ruffin situation isn’t just that she was dropped, but that the WHCA board voted unanimously to drop her. It suggests that even within the traditionally left-leaning press corps, there’s a growing recognition that certain boundaries of decency and respect should apply to all presidents, regardless of party.

Key Takeaways:

• The WHCA unanimously decided to cancel anti-Trump comedian Amber Ruffin’s performance at its annual dinner after criticism from the Trump administration.
• This marks a significant shift from previous years when anti-conservative rhetoric at the event was not only tolerated but celebrated.
• The decision signals that even traditionally liberal media institutions are recalibrating their approach to the Trump presidency.

Sources: Daily Caller, USA TODAY