President Donald Trump attended the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 2026. Accompanied by WHCA president Weijia Jiang and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump delivered a lengthy speech filled with humor, potshots, and musings about a third presidential term.
Remarks and Humor
Trump’s speech, lasting over an hour, included mixed comments aimed at journalists and public figures. His jokes touched on the weight and intellect of well-known personalities, and he claimed to have removed harsher comments from his prepared remarks. “That was going to be a doozy,” he said humorously.
“As I said three months ago, the show must go on,” Trump stated, referencing the rescheduling of the dinner after a security incident in April.
The president reminisced about “the attempted mass murder” that led to the dinner’s postponement but returned to humor and criticisms in his address. His appearance at the dinner highlighted a complicated relationship with the media, with several reporters present whom he had previously criticized or barred from events.
Targeted Insults
Trump’s speech included surprising mentions of figures like Jane Fonda, Bruce Springsteen, Barack Obama, and various late-night hosts. His quips were met with mixed reactions from the audience, initially responsive but growing more subdued over time.
He also acknowledged the venue, once the Trump International Hotel, commenting, “It’s great to be back at a place that I know very well, because I built it.” Concerning the journalism awards presented that evening, he asked rhetorically, “Do I have a say in those awards?” His humor extended to jesting about a third term, despite Constitutional constraints.
Security and Setting
The venue’s security was notably stringent, with attendees subject to multiple checks. Outgoing WHCA president Weijia Jiang addressed guests, remarking on the event’s persistence despite past violence.
Trump’s speech was peppered with humor targeting the audience: “This is really the largest group of ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ people put together at one time.”
Awards and Honors
New awards were introduced, honoring Victor Gonzales, a Secret Service agent wounded while preventing an attack, and the staff of the Washington Hilton for their professionalism during the April incident.
The evening retained elements from the original dinner, such as entertainment by mentalist Oz Pearlman, yet aimed to overcome the severe events of April. Emphasizing its original purpose, Jiang highlighted, “A celebration of a free press and the vital role of journalism in our democracy for over a century.”
Criticism and Tensions
Although some opposed rescheduling the dinner, arguing it might undermine public trust in journalism, the event proceeded despite escalating tensions between Trump and the media.
President Trump concluded his remarks with a nod to journalistic resilience and humor about their financial prospects without his presence. He ended on a candid note about the evening: “I didn’t know what to expect. It’s far worse than I originally thought.”
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