President Donald Trump attended his inaugural White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Friday in Washington, D.C., delivering a lengthy speech targeting journalists, politicians, and celebrities.
Trump's Media Critique
Trump began his remarks by acknowledging the audience, stating, "Amazing people, a lot of people that I like. Some I don’t like at all, but I respect most of them." He quickly shifted to critiquing the press, calling it "fake news media" responsible for "made-up stories like the Academy Awards." Trump claimed, "When I’m gone, you’re all going to be broke."
Discussing his media strategy, Trump noted, "I’ve given up on you and the media...I’m number one on TikTok." He added that he facilitated the sale of TikTok to "a group of very wealthy people, mostly Americans."
Past Dinners and Present Absences
Trump explained his absence from previous dinners, saying, "I thought the press treated me very, very unfairly." This year, he noted the absence of a comedian, criticizing potential hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert as "people without talent."
During the event, Trump praised Paramount CEO David Ellison's potential plans to rename the dinner to "the Trump White House Correspondents’ Dinner."
Jabs at Journalists and Celebrities
Trump's remarks included criticism of CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, congratulating her on an award but calling it "a fake." CNN's Mark Thompson defended the network's journalism, emphasizing their right to report without government interference.
Trump also took aim at other figures, including Don Lemon, calling him "the dumbest man on television," and attacking Bruce Springsteen's political speeches during concerts.
Litigation and Recognition
Trump's hostile relationship with the press was underscored by his legal actions against outlets like The Wall Street Journal, which won the Katharine Graham Award for a story Trump disputes. He has filed a lawsuit seeking $20 billion in damages.
Despite the tension, Trump joked about running for a fourth term, donning a "Trump 2028" hat, and reiterated his false claim of winning the 2020 election.
Event Highlights
The dinner at the Waldorf Astoria featured mentalist Oz Pearlman and was rescheduled due to an attempted attack on Trump in April. Outgoing WHCA president Weijia Jiang and Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich hosted the event.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/trump-white-house-correspondents-dinner-remarks-1236820779/
