Magician at WHCA dinner signals press freedom decline under Trump

The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner on April 26, 2025, featured mentalist Oz Pearlman instead of a comedian, marking a shift under President Donald Trump. Pearlman, 43, a third-place finisher on America's Got Talent, performed a mind-reading act that avoids mockery. The event, traditionally hosted by a comic since the 1990s, saw Trump attend for the first time since avoiding it during his first term. The booking reflects the WHCA's weakened position after the Trump administration took control of press pool access in February 2025, stripping the WHCA of its century-old role. The Associated Press was barred after refusing to adopt Trump's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico, and The Wall Street Journal faced restrictions over stories on Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Pearlman described his act to Washington Monthly as built on 'partial truths' and 'cheating.' The WHCA, a press-freedom organization, chose a performer who openly deceives. Trump, who prefers flattery over criticism, also hosted King Charles III in Washington, described as 'all pomp, no politics.' The dinner may be rescheduled at a venue like a White House ballroom, further limiting press access.