WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump turned the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) Dinner into a mix of comedy and politics on Friday, delivering jokes, media jabs and remarks on key national and international issues during his long-awaited return to the annual event.
The dinner, originally scheduled for April, was postponed after a gunman opened fire outside the Washington Hilton, forcing the evacuation of guests. Nearly three months later, the event was held under heightened security at the Waldorf Astoria, marking Trump’s first appearance at the correspondents’ dinner as president.
Opening his hour-long speech, Trump acknowledged the April shooting, saying the event could have ended in tragedy before adding that “the show must go on.” He also revealed that he had removed some of the harsher remarks from the speech originally prepared for the April gathering.
Throughout his address, Trump mixed humor with criticism, taking aim at journalists, political rivals and celebrities. His targets included former President Barack Obama, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Representative Ilhan Omar, television hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, and entertainers Bruce Springsteen and Jane Fonda.
He also joked about the journalism awards presented during the evening, many of which recognised reporting critical of his administration.
The president briefly addressed the ongoing conflict involving Iran, saying diplomatic efforts remained underway while stressing that the United States remained prepared to escalate military action if necessary.
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He said there was both a military and diplomatic path forward, adding that Washington remained “locked and loaded” while continuing talks.
Trump also joked about the possibility of serving a third presidential term before quickly clarifying that he was “only kidding.” Later in the evening, he drew laughter by putting on a red “Trump 2028” cap, calling it the night’s “scoop.”
One of the evening’s most talked-about moments came when Trump unexpectedly mentioned rapper Nicki Minaj while recalling the April shooting.
The remark quickly went viral on social media, drawing mixed reactions, with some users criticising it as insensitive while others praised the president’s comedic style.
Despite repeatedly criticising the media during his remarks, Trump ended on a conciliatory note, saying he respected journalism and believed in a free press.
He also defended his administration’s frequent engagement with reporters, arguing that direct interaction gives the public an opportunity to hear the government’s position firsthand.
Earlier in the evening, outgoing WHCA President Weijia Jiang said the decision to reschedule the dinner reflected the media’s determination not to be intimidated by political violence. She reaffirmed the association’s commitment to protecting press freedom and supporting independent journalism.
The White House Correspondents’ Association also honoured Secret Service officer Victor Gonzales, who was wounded while confronting the gunman during the April attack, as well as staff members of the Washington Hilton for their response during the incident.
The annual dinner, which has been held for more than a century, raises funds for journalism scholarships while celebrating the role of a free press.
This year’s gathering took place under significantly tighter security, with reduced attendance, multiple security checkpoints and enhanced law enforcement measures following the April shooting.
The event came amid continuing tensions between the Trump administration and several media organisations over lawsuits, press access and broader concerns about press freedom.
While critics have accused the administration of increasing pressure on the media, Trump has defended his approach, saying it is intended to promote accountability and address perceived bias.
Concluding his remarks, Trump thanked the audience before ending with another joke, saying the evening had turned out to be “far worse” than he had expected, drawing laughter from attendees and bringing the rescheduled correspondents’ dinner to a close.
