Held at the Washington Hilton, the 2025 edition of this storied event saw neither President Donald Trump nor a comic roast, a staple in past dinners. Eugene Daniels, president of the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA), emphasized the event's core mission: recognizing exceptional journalistic work and supporting the next generation through scholarships and mentorship. "Every year we invite the president to this dinner. I want to be clear about something, we don't invite presidents of the United States to this because it's for them," Daniels addressed. "We don't invite them because we want to cozy up to them or curry favor.