President Donald Trump delivered a rambling, hour-long speech at the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Friday evening in Washington, mixing lighthearted quips with sharp attacks on journalists and political opponents at an event held under heightened security nearly three months after a gunman disrupted the original gathering.
Speaking at the Waldorf Astoria—a smaller, more secure venue than the Washington Hilton where the April 25 dinner was cut short by gunfire—Trump targeted CNN’s Kaitlan Collins with a sexist attack, claiming she does not smile enough. He also took personal swipes at Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, Wall Street Journal reporter Josh Dawsey, and numerous political figures, according to CNN’s live coverage and The Guardian.
The attack on Collins reprised earlier criticism. In June, Trump had lashed out at her during an Oval Office press briefing, accusing her of having “hatred in her eyes,” according to reporting from The Hill. Trump had also previously told her to smile—a comment that drew scrutiny for its sexist framing. CNN defended Collins as “an exceptional, trusted journalist” who “reports every day from the White House and the field with real strength and tenacity.”
Trump’s speech, which lasted over an hour, drew a muted response from the assembled audience. According to CNN’s coverage, many of his jokes fell flat, with attendees on their phones, talking amongst themselves, or leaving the room. At one point, Trump broke character and acknowledged the poor reception, saying he thought “that was actually the only thing I thought was good in this whole, frickin, stupid speech they wrote.”
The president mocked transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney’s 2023 Bud Light partnership, claiming the deal cost the beer brand $35 billion in market value. Speaking at the Waldorf Astoria event, Trump referenced Mulvaney’s controversial sponsorship while making a joke aimed at Collins, saying he thought she “had really made it big with a major new sponsorship” before revealing it was actually Mulvaney on the Bud Light can. Mulvaney’s April 2023 Instagram post featuring Bud Light cans sparked an immediate conservative backlash led by Trump ally Kid Rock, and as of early 2024, Anheuser-Busch had lost approximately $27 billion in market value, according to financial analyses.
Trump announced or joked about running for a 2028 presidential bid, donning a red “Trump 2028” hat and declaring his “intention to run for a fourth term as president,” though he insisted the remarks were jokes. The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1951, explicitly forbids serving more than two terms. Trump is currently in his second term, having been elected in 2016 and 2024. Legal scholars have disputed whether any constitutional loophole exists, with experts telling FactCheck.org that arguments for a third term are “implausible” and “defeat the clear intent” of the amendment.
This was Trump’s first attendance at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association event as president. During his first term, he skipped every dinner, breaking with precedent dating back to Calvin Coolidge in 1924, according to USA Today. The April dinner had been disrupted when Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old California resident, opened fire near the main security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton. Allen ran past security while armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, a .38 semi-automatic pistol, and multiple knives, firing at least one shot that struck a Secret Service officer’s bullet-resistant vest. The officer was hospitalized but later released. Prosecutors charged Allen with four counts, including attempting to assassinate a United States president. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The rescheduled dinner brought together roughly 700 attendees—about a quarter the size of the original venue—including senior administration officials, members of the press, and other dignitaries. White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang emphasized that holding the dinner despite the April attack was intended to send a message that the association would not be intimidated. She said she did not want images of colleagues hiding under tables to be the last memory from the year’s event. The dinner was dedicated in part to Victor Gonzales, the Secret Service officer wounded in the April attack, and hotel staff who assisted guests during the shooting.
Trump said he planned to return to the dinner next year, adding a caveat: “Now, if you get really, really nasty, maybe not. But we’re going to be back.” His appearance marked a historic break from his pattern of avoiding the event, though his speech and attacks on the press underscored the contentious relationship between his administration and the media that has characterized his second term.
Sources
- The Guardian — Trump’s hour-long speech, personal attacks on journalists and political figures, audience reaction, and historical context of his absence from the dinner during his first term
- CNN — Live coverage of Trump’s speech, his attacks on Kaitlan Collins and other journalists, CNN’s statement defending Collins, and audience reception
- NBC News — Details of the April shooting incident, the rescheduling and new venue, security measures, attendance numbers, and context on Trump’s first appearance as president
- ECIKS.org — Trump’s remarks at the rescheduled dinner, the April 25 shooting incident, Cole Tomas Allen’s charges and manifesto, and Weijia Jiang’s remarks on enhanced security
- The Hill — Trump’s June attack on Collins during an Oval Office press briefing
- USA Today — Trump’s historical absence from the dinner during his first term and precedent dating to Calvin Coolidge
- FactCheck.org — Legal scholars’ analysis of the 22nd Amendment and purported loopholes for a third term
