President Donald Trump delivered a speech at the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, criticizing media outlets and various public figures.
Key facts
- •President Trump spoke for approximately 64 minutes after taking the podium at 9:33 p.m.
- •The event was held at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C., after being rescheduled from April 25.
- •Wall Street Journal reporters won the $10,000 Katharine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability.
- •Trump claimed he gave up on traditional press and is now "number one on TikTok."
- •CNN Worldwide CEO Mark Thompson issued a statement defending the network's reporting and journalists following Trump's comments.
President Donald Trump attended his first White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Friday evening in Washington, D.C. The event, held at the Waldorf Astoria, was a rescheduled gala following an April 25 assassination attempt that disrupted the original gathering. During a speech lasting approximately 64 minutes, Trump addressed the assembled journalists, alternating between jokes and criticisms of the press and several public figures.
By the numbers
Criticism of Media and Public Figures
Trump used his remarks to target various journalists and media organizations, labeling the press as "fake news" and suggesting their business models would fail without him. He specifically criticized CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, who received a 2026 WHCA award for her coverage of an Oval Office confrontation, and referred to Don Lemon as the "lowest IQ on television." Additionally, Trump insulted several politicians and celebrities, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and musician Bruce Springsteen.
Event Details and Awards
The dinner featured a performance by mentalist Oz Pearlman rather than the traditional comedian. During the ceremony, Wall Street Journal reporters received the $10,000 Katharine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability for their reporting on a letter purportedly written by Trump to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump, who has filed a $20 billion lawsuit regarding that story, shook the reporters' hands before returning to his seat. The event was hosted by outgoing WHCA president Weijia Jiang and incoming president Jacqui Heinrich.
Remarks on Policy and Future Plans
Trump joked about renaming the event the "Trump White House Correspondents’ Dinner" and donned a "Trump 2028" hat while suggesting he would run for a fourth term. He also referenced his Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with jokes regarding roadkill and a vehicle accident. Trump stated he plans to return to the dinner in 2027, noting that he had previously avoided the event for four years due to his perception of unfair media treatment.
Timeline
- April 25The original WHCA dinner was interrupted by an assassination attempt on President Trump.
- February 2025President Trump had a confrontation with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.
- May 2026Trump refiled a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal regarding a story about a letter to Jeffrey Epstein.
- Friday eveningThe rescheduled WHCA dinner took place at the Waldorf Astoria.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Variety.
