President Donald Trump attended the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, DC, on Friday, July 24, 2026. Accompanied by WHCA president Weijia Jiang and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump delivered a speech at the rescheduled event.
The dinner, postponed due to a gunman’s threat at the original April event, featured Trump’s hour-long speech. Trump praised some journalists, criticized others, joked about public figures, and mentioned the possibility of a third term, despite the legal limitation established by the U.S. Constitution’s 22nd Amendment. He noted that he had toned down his originally planned remarks but stated, “That was going to be a doozy.”
Addressing the gathered journalists, Trump acknowledged the threat that disrupted the April dinner, referring to it as an “attempted mass murder.” His comments shifted primarily to humor and some insults. He remarked, “As I said three months ago, the show must go on.”
Trump’s participation indicated a shift in his relationship with the media, a field he has criticized and taken legal measures against since his second term began. He spoke to some reporters whom he had previously denounced and barred. His speech included jabs at several personalities, such as Jane Fonda and Bruce Springsteen, and contained some racial undertones. His humorous comments initially earned laughs, but the crowd eventually grew quieter as complaints increased.
The dinner, held at a more intimate venue with about 700 attendees, saw heightened security measures. Attendees experienced tight checks and no red carpet or pre-dinner cocktail receptions. Weijia Jiang, serving as WHCA president, reflected on the trauma of April, affirming, “We are back. We will not be intimidated.”
In the speech, Trump took aim at people like late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and former Gov. Chris Christie. He also mentioned his pride in the remodeled Waldorf Astoria, a former Trump property, and joked about his influence over journalism awards presented earlier that evening.
Among the award winners was Tyler Pager of the New York Times, previously subpoenaed by Trump’s administration over a story involving his Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet, a subpoena that was later dropped.
Trump concluded with a red cap displaying “Trump 2028,” laughingly suggesting another run for president before stating, “I’m only kidding.” However, the humor carried serious undertones of ongoing tensions between his administration and the press.
Despite consisting largely of toned-down content, the dinner included two new awards for bravery in April. Victor Gonzales, a Secret Service agent, and the staff of the Washington Hilton, the initial event’s venue, were honored for their professionalism and courage under challenging circumstances.
Jiang remarked on the purpose of the dinner—a celebration of press freedom and democracy—amidst criticism that rescheduling undermined journalistic integrity. Some felt the event blurred professional boundaries between journalists and their subjects.
Throughout his second term, Trump has sought to pressure media outlets using lawsuits and sanctions, raising tensions. However, attempting reconciliation, he told journalists, “I have a lot of respect for your profession.” In keeping with his style, he ended with a self-referential quip: “When I’m not around, you’re all gonna be broke.”