President Donald Trump addressed political rivals and members of the press during the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner held on July 24 in Washington, D.C. The event, held at the Waldorf Astoria hotel ballroom, marked Trump’s first appearance at the annual gathering since becoming president, following a boycott of previous dinners during his term. The original 2026 gala was halted in April after a gunman opened fire near the venue, prompting heightened security measures for the July event.
Trump’s speech lasted over 30 minutes and combined elements of humor, criticism, and political commentary. The president opened his remarks to the tune of Lee Greenwood’s "God Bless the USA," joking about the challenges of watching journalists receive awards covering his administration. He acknowledged he did not like everyone in attendance but claimed to mostly respect the journalists present.
The president took aim at several journalists and entertainers. He expressed disapproval of late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and Stephen Colbert, describing them as “sick people,” and characterized CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins, an award recipient at the event, as “nasty.” At one point, Trump smirked during CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer’s presentation of an award to a Wall Street Journal team recognizing reporting that linked Trump to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump also responded with amusement when Blitzer mentioned his defamation lawsuit against the Journal, filed over those stories.
A notable moment came when Blitzer presented Getty Images photographer Andrew Harnik with an award for capturing an Oval Office visitor collapsing while Trump appeared to stare at the press. Trump raised an eyebrow and smiled during the presentation. The event also featured a performance by mentalist Oz Pearlman, who had been warming up guests when the April shooting occurred.
Despite the pointed criticisms, Trump spoke on the importance of the First Amendment and thanked Secret Service officers for their protection of attendees. He also addressed a long-standing narrative that he decided to run for president in response to jokes made by then-President Barack Obama at the 2011 Correspondents’ Dinner. Trump denied this, saying Obama’s remarks were “hard but with respect,” and insisting that the decision to run had come independently.
The dinner unfolded amid ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the press. More than 500 journalists had urged the White House Correspondents Association to publicly rebuke Trump’s frequent attacks on the media and the First Amendment during the event. Trump, however, expressed “a lot of respect” for the press gathered and thanked them for attending, calling it an honor.
Concluding his remarks with a nod to the future, Trump teased a presidential run in 2028, donning a red “Trump 2028” hat as he joked about seeking a fourth term in office.