President Donald Trump made his debut at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, which was rescheduled and took place on Friday evening in Washington, D.C. During his speech, which lasted just over an hour, Trump delivered sharp remarks towards the journalists present, making insults aimed at several reporters, politicians, and celebrities he has previously clashed with.
“I am delighted to be here at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Amazing people, a lot of people that I like,” Trump said. “Some I don’t like at all, but I respect most of them.”
Initially, Trump seemed uncertain about the tone he wanted to convey and mentioned that, compared to the remarks he had planned for the original WHCA dinner, which was disrupted by an armed attacker, he was holding back. “I said, ‘What do we do here? Is this supposed to be fun? Am I supposed to be serious? Am I supposed to be a comedian?’ So I guess you said, maybe a little bit of everything.”
Trump quickly shifted to criticizing the media. “This evening it’s really all about the fake news media and your handling of prizes — writing and producing and performing made-up stories like the Academy Awards,” he said. He claimed the Academy Awards used to be a major ratings draw outside of the Super Bowl but had declined because they criticized him.
He warned the journalists, “when I’m gone. You’re all going to be broke. Your business model is going to be finished. No, it’s true. When I’m not around, you’re going to be broke. There’s not going to be anybody to report on. Nobody gives a damn about anybody else.”
Trump mentioned that he had given up on traditional media in favor of social media, claiming, “I’m number one on TikTok. Did you see that?… I gave up on you, people. I gave up on traditional press, and it obviously worked because we did win in a landline” (he meant “landslide,” although that statement is false). He noted, “I was able to get [TikTok] sold to a group of very wealthy people, mostly Americans.”
Trump explained his absence from past WHCA dinners, saying, “I thought the press treated me very, very unfairly, and I don’t know. I think I made the right decision because they need to go where maybe you’re not wanted, but they did want me. They wanted me for ratings, and they wanted me for other reasons, but not for love. And I said, ‘You know, I’m not going to go.’ First time that ever happened… And I didn’t go for four years because I got treated terribly by the press.”
This year, Trump remarked, the WHCA opted not to have a comedian. “They considered using Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon,” he said. “These guys — they’re terrible. They’re terrible. Stephen Colbert. These are people without talent… They have no talent, but they are not comedians. They’re not funny people. They’re angry people. They’re sick people.”
Trump began his speech at 9:33 p.m., speaking for approximately 64 minutes.
Trump humorously claimed that Paramount CEO David Ellison, whose company owns CBS News, told him next year’s event would be renamed “the Trump White House Correspondents’ Dinner.” “He told me that, and I like that very much. We’re going to change the name of it, OK?” Trump said, referencing an unsuccessful attempt to have his name added to the Kennedy Center.
Additionally, he wished Bari Weiss well at CBS News, calling her “a wonderful woman,” which elicited a reaction from the audience.
Trump remarked that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt “may have one of the hardest jobs in the White House” due to dealing with the press. “You can be very, very difficult people. But I’m probably being a little bit oversensitive. Sometimes I really do think that some of you don’t like me.”
He joked, “This place is the really the largest group of Trump derangement syndrome people ever put together at one time, I suspect,” drawing some laughter.
Trump criticized some of his perceived adversaries, stating that Don Lemon had the “lowest ratings” and “lowest IQ on television,” calling him “the dumbest man on television.”
He also targeted CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, who won the 2026 WHCA award for her coverage of his clash with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump congratulated her but dismissed the award as “all about me” and “a fake.” (Mark Thompson, CEO of CNN Worldwide, defended their journalists in a statement, affirming their commitment to honest journalism protected by the U.S. Constitution.)
Trump went on to comment on Collins, describing her as “a young, active woman” who “never smiles.” He made a joke about a sponsorship involving her and Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender influencer, referencing a controversial beer campaign.
Regarding Anderson Cooper, Trump commented on their past interviews and noted their differing perspectives.
Trump also criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Chuck Schumer, Rosie O’Donnell, CNN’s Jake Tapper, and Bruce Springsteen. He mocked Springsteen’s new song and political speeches during his performances, calling it “Bored in the USA.”
Trump has consistently had a contentious relationship with the media, labeling various outlets as “fake news” and filing lawsuits against some, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, ABC News, and CBS News’ “60 Minutes.”
During the dinner, Wall Street Journal reporters received the Katharine Graham Award for a story about a letter purportedly written by Trump to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump denied writing the letter and sued the Journal, demanding $20 billion in damages. The lawsuit was dismissed but later refiled. At the event, Trump awkwardly shook hands with the Journal reporters.
“This has not been an easy evening. All these awards… Do I get a say in those awards?” Trump joked during his remarks.
Near the conclusion of his speech, Trump joked about running for a fourth term, donning a “Trump 2028” hat, and repeating his unfounded claim of winning the 2020 U.S. presidential election. He expressed his intention to attend the correspondents’ dinner in 2027.
Trump also humorously mentioned Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his secretary of Health and Human Services, joking about a cow allegedly run over by Kennedy.
The WHCA dinner was held at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in D.C. and featured a performance by mentalist Oz Pearlman, diverging from the tradition of inviting a comedian.
The event was rescheduled following an attempted assassination on Trump during the original gathering on April 25. The assailant was apprehended, and Trump expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their response.
Outgoing WHCA president Weijia Jiang, a senior White House correspondent for CBS News, delivered opening remarks and shared hosting duties with Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich, the incoming president for the 2026-27 term.
