WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump returned Friday to the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, delivering a wide-ranging speech that mixed praise for some journalists with criticism of others, jokes about public figures and quips about serving a third presidential term.
Trump’s remarks, which lasted just over an hour, marked his return to the annual event after it was postponed in April following a shooting outside the original venue that prompted its cancellation.
Opening his speech, Trump said he had scrapped the sharper version of the remarks he had prepared for the original dinner.
“That was going to be a doozy,” he said, before adding, “As I said three months ago, the show must go on.”
Although he briefly referred to the April attack, Trump quickly shifted to humor, delivering jokes and criticism aimed at politicians, entertainers and members of the news media.
Among those mentioned during the speech were actors Jane Fonda and Bruce Springsteen, former President Barack Obama, late-night television hosts Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel, Rep. Ilhan Omar, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Some of the remarks drew criticism for flirting with racial stereotypes.
Trump also joked about the journalism awards presented earlier in the evening, many of which recognized reporting critical of his administration.
“Do I have a say in those awards?” he quipped.
The president briefly addressed the conflict with Iran and spoke about plans for a new ballroom at the White House before joking about seeking a third term in office, despite the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition on presidents serving more than two elected terms.
“Just like my presidency, the second time is always better,” Trump said. “And the third time will be better yet.”
He immediately added, “I’m only kidding,” but later concluded the event by putting on a red “Trump 2028” cap and joking that he was announcing another presidential campaign.
Trump’s appearance marked a notable moment in his relationship with the White House press corps. Since returning to office, he has repeatedly criticized news organizations, filed lawsuits against media outlets and taken administrative actions affecting journalists’ access to the White House.
Earlier in the evening, outgoing White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang thanked Trump for attending before awards were presented honoring excellence in journalism.
Among the recipients was New York Times reporter Tyler Pager, who was recently subpoenaed by the Justice Department over reporting on a Qatari-gifted Air Force One aircraft before the subpoena was withdrawn this week.
The rescheduled dinner was held under heightened security at Washington’s Waldorf Astoria hotel, with attendance reduced to about 700 guests. Security measures included multiple identification checks, armed officers and explosives detection dogs.
The association also presented two special awards recognizing the response to the April shooting. One honored Secret Service agent Victor Gonzales, who was wounded while confronting the gunman, while another recognized employees of the Washington Hilton for their response during the incident.
Jiang said the decision to reschedule the dinner was intended to ensure that the attack did not define the association or its mission.
“We are back,” she told attendees. “We will not be intimidated. We refuse to let an act of violence have the final word.”
Despite criticism from some media observers who argue the annual dinner creates an appearance of undue closeness between journalists and the officials they cover, the White House Correspondents’ Association said the event remains a celebration of press freedom and the role of journalism in American democracy.
Trump closed his remarks on a lighter note, telling the audience he respected journalism before joking, “When I’m not around, you’re all gonna be broke.”
He ended by adding, “I didn’t know what to expect. It’s far worse than I originally thought.”
Source: Saudi Gazette