Comedian Hasan Minhaj will be the entertainment at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner later on this month, the association announced Tuesday.
Minhaj is a senior correspondent on “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” on Comedy Central, and will be performing for a dinner that won’t be attended by President Trump this year. Trump announced he wouldn’t be attending the dinner earlier this year amid multiple spats with the press.
“It is a tremendous honor to be a part of such a historic event even though the president has chosen not to attend this year. SAD! Now more than ever, it is vital that we honor the First Amendment and the freedom of the press,” Minhaj said in a statement.
The White House Correspondents’ dinner is scheduled for April 29 at the Washington Hilton.
Jeff Mason, a White House reporter for Reuters and the president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, said Minhaj was the perfect choice for this year’s dinner.
“I am thrilled that Hasan will serve as our featured entertainer at this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” Mason said in a statement. “Hasan’s smarts, big heart and passion for press freedom make him the perfect fit for our event, which will be focused on the First Amendment and the importance of a robust and independent media.”
