The 31st annual White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch was held at the historic Beall-Washington House in Georgetown on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Co-hosted by Tammy Haddad, Ruth Porat, Kevin Sheekey, Mark and Sally Ein, Symone Sanders-Townsend, Jon Banner, Craig Minassian, and Franco Nuschese, the Brunch celebrated journalism, democracy, and heroism.
Highlights of the stage program included:
Host Tammy Haddad recognizing Maryland State police officers whose actions in the wake of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore saved many lives.
MSNBC anchor Symone Sanders-Townsend presenting the Garden Brunch Champion of Journalism Award to the White House Correspondents’ Association, which was accepted by incoming WHCA president Eugene Daniels.
CNN Anchor Kaitlan Collins and Olympic medalist Gus Kenworthy presenting co-host Mark Ein, co-owner of the Washington Commanders and owner of the Beall-Washington House, with the Friend of the Garden Brunch award.
TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie thanking members of the military for their service and acknowledging two organizations that support veterans and military family members – Dog Tag Bakery and Blue Star Families.
Attendees included Governor of New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham; British Ambassador Dame Karen Pierce; Ukraine Ambassador Oksana Markarova; Irish Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason; Luxembourg Ambassador Nicole Bintner; Australian Ambassador and Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd; DC Mayor Muriel Bowser; Senator Amy Klobuchar; Senator Mark Warner; Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester; Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Steven Horsford; Former counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway; Lyft CEO David Risher; TODAY’s Al Roker; CNN anchors Jake Tapper, Dana Bash, and Abby Phillip; women’s soccer legend Ashlyn Harris; and actors Sophia Bush, Kevin McHale, Rosario Dawson, Jordan Klepper, Wilson Cruz, Joseph Lee, Andrew McCarthy, and Desi Lydic. The 31st Anniversary Garden Brunch was made possible by the generous support of McDonald’s, General Motors, U.S. Steel, Verizon, and Flex.