Daily Show's Hasan Minhaj to host White House Correspondents' Dinner

With U.S. President Donald Trump staying away, The Daily Show'sHasan Minhaj is set to headline this year's White House Correspondents Association dinner.

In a press release, the comedian made a tongue-in-cheek reference to the president's Twitter style, saying: "It is a tremendous honour to be a part of such a historic event even though the president has chosen not to attend this year. SAD!"

WHCA President Jeff Mason made the announcement on MSNBC's Morning JoeTuesday, saying the April 29 dinner jokingly dubbed "nerd prom" will be "different" without Trump.

In a statement, Mason says the event "will be focused on the First Amendment and the importance of a robust and independent media."

Trump was famously the butt of jokes from former U.S. president Barack Obama at the 2011 dinner.

Trump announced in February that he wouldn't attend this year.