US President Donald Trump used the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner to deliver pointed critiques of the media, continuing his contentious relationship with journalists. The event, celebrating press freedom, was rescheduled following a shooting at the original venue three months earlier.
Trump sat alongside reporters from major outlets he has frequently challenged, including The New York Times, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal, some of whom received awards during the evening. While the president opened with light-hearted comments, praising "most of" the media and joking about running for a third term, his tone soon shifted to sharp attacks on "fake news" and accusations of "Trump Derangement Syndrome" among attendees.
WHCA President Weijia Jiang announced plans to return the event to the Washington Hilton next year, the site of the April shooting, despite security concerns that led to the relocation this time to the Waldorf Astoria. The outgoing WHCA head emphasized resilience against violence, referencing the gunman subdued at the earlier event.
Officer Victor Gonzalez of the US Secret Service, who was shot while responding to the April incident, received an award from Trump in recognition of his bravery. The president reaffirmed his commitment to free speech, stating, "We settle our differences not with bullets, but with open and vigorous debate. And no deranged loser with a gun will ever change that."
Trump's hour-long speech also included jabs at Democratic politicians and celebrities, alongside direct insults aimed at journalists present in the room. Despite the confrontational remarks, the president appeared in good spirits, humorously acknowledging the media's critical stance toward him and suggesting the news industry would struggle without him in office.
Security at the event was significantly heightened compared to the original dinner, with multiple screenings, restricted access, and a strong police and national guard presence. Attendance was limited to about 700 guests, down from over 2,000 in April.
The April shooting suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, has been charged with attempted assassination of the president after being tackled just before entering the ballroom where the dinner was held.
Other notable attendees included Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
