The White House Correspondent Association demolished the comedian, which was titled its annual dinner, the body said on Saturday, amidst tension with US President Donald Trump, who has targeted several outlets on his coverage.
Comedian, Amber Rafin has first criticized Trump and jokingly said that no one would want to participate in the next month’s dinner.
A White House spokesperson criticized him and WHCA on his appearance in dinner, traditionally made by a comedian who made fun of who was the President at that time.
WHCA President Eugene Daniel told the members in Saturday’s email that the board unanimously decided that “we are no longer a comic performance this year.”
“In this resulting moment for journalism, I want to make sure that the focus is not on the politics of the division, but to fully honor our colleagues for their outstanding work and to provide scholarship and mentorship to the next generation of journalists,” said Daniel.
He said that he would give further information as dinner on 26 April.
A White House spokesman called the decision “a policeman”.
Trump’s team clashes with WHCA, which is an independent body representing journalists covering the White House since returning to power in January.
In February, it snatched the WHCA of the century old power to decide which of them the US President covers the programs, Trump claimed that he was now calling “shots” on media reach.
His administration said that WHCA would no longer be “monopoly” when choosing members of “Press Pool”.
Press Pool is a small group of reporters that covers the US President in tight places such as the Oval Office and Air Force One, and share their content with other news organizations.
WHCA – from which AFP is a member – said the decision “tears on freedom of independent press.”
The White House has also banned reporters from the Associated Press News Agency from the Oval Office and traveled on the Air Force one since February.
This is done because AP refers to the Gulf of Mexico, which is an international body of water, not only by Trump as the “Gulf of America”.
The AP has filed a case against three White House officials, arguing that the refusal of access violates the first amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees freedom and press to speak.
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