White House Correspondents Dinner welcomes back Hasan Minhaj for 2020 keynote, plus Kenan Thompson as host

After a one-year overcorrection, the White House Correspondents Dinner is welcoming back comedians to speak to the assembled press and their political and celebrity guests in 2020.

Hasan Minhaj, who previously delivered the keynote at the 2017 WHCD, will return to do likewise this April 25. Plus, Kenan Thompson will host the event, which also includes handing out journalism awards.

“Kenan and Hasan are two of the most engaged and engaging entertainers in America.  I’m thrilled they’ll help us celebrate the role of a free press in our democracy,” Jonathan Karl, ABC News’ chief White House correspondent and president of the WHCA, said in a statement.  “We’re looking forward to a lively evening honoring the most important political journalism of the past year.”

The correspondents backtracked in 2019 and had a historian deliver remarks after they got scared off by Michelle Wolf in 2018.

The event itself is more than a bit anachronistic. The media who covers the White House, drinking and eating with the president (before Trump decided to skip the event entirely) and politicians, then inviting famous people to join them for dinner, and having comedians roast them all, while not having much of a sense of humor or dignity about it all. So yeah. It’s all happening! Again.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

View all posts by Sean L. McCarthy →