The rift has deepened over recent years, marked by verbal clashes and institutional changes—most notably when the White House took control over the coordination of the press pool, disrupting decades of media tradition. The administration has also blocked reporters from certain outlets, like the Associated Press, from attending pooled events, signaling a more combative stance toward mainstream media. And now, as April 26 approaches……the event becomes even more charged. The dinner was already under scrutiny after comedian Amber Ruffin’s performance was canceled due to criticism from Trump officials, reflecting the event’s increasingly political undertones. According to Axios, Trump’s plan to avoid the dinner surfaced amid whispers of a possible competing gathering—some suggesting a counter-party on the same night,

which happens to coincide with Melania Trump’s birthday. Even White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Sean Spicer’s podcast that she will not be attending, further highlighting the administration’s distancing from the once-celebrated media tradition.