Why it's trending
The White House Correspondents' Dinner, rescheduled after an April shooting, took place on July 25, 2026, with President Trump making notable remarks including swipes at the media and a joke about a third term, generating widespread coverage and discussion.
President Donald Trump used the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Friday to take swipes at the media he has often criticized, accusing many reporters in the room of having 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' and dismissing coverage as 'fake news,' according to the BBC.
The event, originally planned for April at the Washington Hilton, was postponed after a shooting in which a Secret Service officer was injured. The dinner was moved to the Waldorf Astoria. WHCA President Weijia Jiang of CBS News said the association would return to the Hilton next year, insisting she would 'refuse to let an act of violence have the final word.'
Trump began on a lighter note, joking that 'the second time is always better' and praising the media, saying he respects 'most of them.' He also awarded Secret Service officer Victor Gonzalez, who was shot during the April incident, for his actions. However, the tone shifted as Trump aimed barbs at journalists and joked about running for a third term, saying 'the third time will be better yet.'
The dinner highlighted the tense relationship between Trump and the press, with award winners including a Wall Street Journal team that covered Trump's links to Jeffrey Epstein. Ahead of the event, many in the White House press corps had predicted a stern rebuke, which materialized in part.
Timeline
- Shooting at Washington Hilton disrupts WHCA dinner
A gunman tackled at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Secret Service officer Victor Gonzalez shot. Event postponed.
- Rescheduled WHCA dinner held at Waldorf Astoria
President Trump speaks, takes swipes at media, jokes about third term, awards officer Gonzalez. WHCA president vows to return to Hilton next year.
Questions people ask
Why was the White House Correspondents' Dinner rescheduled?
The dinner was originally scheduled for April but was postponed after a shooting at the Washington Hilton venue in which a Secret Service officer was injured. It was rescheduled for July 25 at the Waldorf Astoria.
What did President Trump say about a third term?
Trump joked that 'the third time will be better yet,' referencing his presidency and suggesting a third term, though he added 'I'm only kidding.'
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