President Trump's speech at the White House Correspondents' Dinner was a blend of humor, self-deprecation, and sharp criticism, primarily targeting the news industry and political opponents. He light-heartedly announced an intention to run for a "fourth term as president of the United States," wearing a "Trump 2028" hat and quipping that the news industry would struggle financially once he left office, as there would be "nobody to report on." The speech, which was originally planned to be more aggressive but was softened, still included numerous jabs at journalists and politicians.
During the event, Trump acknowledged the Wall Street Journal receiving the Katharine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability for its reporting on his "birthday book" letter to Jeffrey Epstein. Despite filing a $20 billion lawsuit against the Journal and causing the relocation of reporter Khadeeja Safdar's family, Trump shook the hand of Wolf Blitzer, who presented the award. The lawsuit, which also led to the Journal being kicked off Air Force One, was initially dismissed in April but refiled in May. Trump also called out reporter Josh Dawsey, claiming he had been "killing me for years."
Trump specifically singled out CNN's Kaitlan Collins, whom he frequently mocks, stating she "shouldn't get the award" and labeling her reporting as "fake." He made several jokes about her appearance and suggested she should smile more. The president also criticized other political figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Amidst some boos from the audience when he attacked Collins, Trump continued to challenge the press, asserting they would be "broke" without him in office, as "Nobody gives a damn about anybody else."
He offered some self-deprecating humor, mentioning a joke about term limits and a senator's wife that he thought was particularly good, but noted it didn't land well with the audience. Trump explained he had held back from an originally planned "doozy" of a speech that was meant to "rip people." He also took aim at Bruce Springsteen for his political views. Despite the critical tone, Trump framed some of his remarks as an effort to "save your ratings." The event itself is a fundraiser for the WHCA, with proceeds supporting journalism awards and scholarships.
The dinner was a rescheduled event, and Trump commented on the altered tone from what his original speech would have been, claiming to have changed it due to unforeseen circumstances. He initially intended to "really let it rip" and present an "important event" but instead opted for an "entirely different speech" that he said would focus on "love," contrasting sharply with his actual remarks primarily focused on media criticism and political jabs.
