On Friday night, July 25, 2026, President Donald Trump attended the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C., an event originally disrupted in April when an armed assailant breached security at the Washington Hilton.

Trump cracked jokes targeting reporters and politicians, reflecting his often-tense relationship with the press. During his speech, he acknowledged the journalists present by saying, "a lot of people that I like, some I don't like at all, but I respect most of them." He also revealed he had scrapped sharper material planned for the April event, calling the cancellation "such a letdown."

At times, his jabs at political opponents and rally-style remarks received limited reactions from the audience. Later, Trump donned a "Trump 2028" hat, framing it as a gesture to support the news business.

Despite past conflicts with many journalists who spoke or received awards, Trump did not show visible frustration on stage and shook hands with award recipients.

Weijia Jiang, the correspondents' association's most recent past president and CBS News senior White House correspondent, emphasized during the event the distinction between criticizing the press and attempting to undermine it.

Additionally, the White House Correspondents' Association confirmed they are actively evaluating venues for future dinners, with an advance team preparing plans to ensure success similar to the Hilton event.

The evening also featured a performance by mentalist Oz Pearlman, who appeared to correctly guess the amount of money in Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's wallet.

Sources