“Saturday Night Live” star Colin Jost has been hired as the host of the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington D.C. on April 27.
“His sharp insights perfectly meet this remarkable time of divided politics,” White House Correspondents’ Association President Kelly O’Donnell said on Friday while announcing the upcoming gig.
“His smart brand of comedy and keen observation will turn up the heat on the national news media and across the political spectrum,” she continued. “A night of laughs and reflections as our dinner honors freedom of the press as a cornerstone of American democracy. I am beyond excited to welcome one of NBC’s brightest stars to one of Washington’s greatest traditions.”
Along with fellow funnyman Michael Che, Jost has spent the past decade anchoring the venerable sketch comedy show’s fake-news segment, “Weekend Update.”
Jost began his career as an actual journalist with his local newspaper, the Staten Island Advance. He has penned articles for The New York Times and The New Yorker. His resume includes his New York Times bestselling memoir, “A Very Punchable Face.”
The 41-year-old comedian is no stranger to making fun of political figures, thanks to his weekly gig on late-night TV. That included a 2020 impersonation of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who once lived in the same dorm as Jost at Harvard.
Last year’s dinner was hosted by comedian Roy WoodJr., while former “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah did the honors in 2022. The 103-year-old event was cancelled the two previous years on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Every U.S. president except Donald Trump has attended the annual skewering of political and media figures. The 45th president has repeatedly stated “Saturday Night Live” should be investigated for mocking him while he was in office.
President Biden spoke at last year’s gathering, where he expressed support for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who’s currently held captive by the Russian government on charges of espionage. Biden is expected to attend this year’s event as well.
Wood Jr. last year described the president as “an 80-year-old man begging us for four more years of work.” Biden and Trump appear headed for rematch in November.
