At Rescheduled Press Dinner, Trump Mocks Term Limits and Mingles With Targeted Reporters
President Donald Trump made a highly anticipated return to the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Friday night, delivering an hourlong address at the Waldorf Astoria that blended praise for the press with sharp insults, jokes about public figures, and a provocative quip about seeking a third term.
The event, which was rescheduled and heavily secured following an attempted mass shooting at the original April gathering, highlighted the deeply complicated relationship between the president and the press corps. During his speech, Trump joked about bypassing the U.S. Constitution’s 22nd Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms in office. After joking that a “third time will be better yet,” he donned a red cap reading “Trump 2028” and jokingly announced another campaign.
The lighthearted banter on stage stood in stark contrast to the real-world legal and administrative battles between the Trump administration and the media. Among the attendees was Tyler Pager of The New York Times, who received an award on Friday. Just one day prior, federal prosecutors in New York withdrew subpoenas issued by Trump’s Justice Department targeting Pager over his reporting on a Qatari-gifted Air Force One aircraft. The use of government subpoenas against journalists has long been a flashpoint for press freedom advocates, with organizations like the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press historically warning that such actions undermine investigative journalism.
Security at the Waldorf Astoria—a property Trump formerly owned as the Trump International Hotel—was significantly tighter than in previous years. The guest list was capped at 700 people, a fraction of the usual crowd. Attendees faced multiple identification checks and a single entrance point, with the traditional red carpet and pre-dinner cocktail parties entirely eliminated. The dinner also honored those who protected attendees during the April attack at the Washington Hilton, including Secret Service Agent Victor Gonzales, who was shot in his protective vest while guarding a checkpoint, and the hotel’s staff.
While Trump maintained a polite demeanor during the awards ceremony, shaking hands with the recipients, his subsequent speech targeted numerous political and media figures. He took aim at CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, former President Barack Obama, Representative Ilhan Omar, and California Governor Gavin Newsom, alongside late-night comedians and his own speechwriters. Trump also questioned the validity of the journalism awards presented that evening, specifically referencing coverage of his past ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The event’s resumption has revived long-standing debates about the ethics of the annual dinner. Critics argue that the event fosters inappropriate proximity between journalists and the politicians they are tasked with covering. Kelly McBride, an ethics expert at the Poynter Institute, noted that such gatherings can damage public trust by making reporters appear overly friendly with their subjects. Historically, the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner dates back to 1914, with Calvin Coolidge becoming the first president to attend in 1924. Trump famously boycotted the dinner during his first term in office, breaking a decades-old tradition before returning to the event in his second term.
