The 2026 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, held on July 24, was an event unlike any other. President Donald Trump‘s speech, which lasted more than an hour, was a departure from the usual lighthearted roasts and lofty notes about the importance of a free press. Instead, it became a rambling address that left many in the room uncomfortable and silent.
The dinner, originally scheduled for April, was rescheduled after a shooting attempt disrupted the event. This time, it was held in the basement of a hotel once owned by Trump, adding to the unusual atmosphere. The room was filled with Washington’s top journalists, who would have preferred to be anywhere else but were trapped in the nation’s capital for the night.
Trump’s Unconventional Approach
Trump’s speech was a far cry from the typical 20-minute address. He spoke for more than an hour, jumping from one topic to another, including the provenance of ballroom chandeliers and Chris Christie’s circumference. The room remained mostly silent, with guests scrolling on their phones or pushing dessert around their plates.
The president seemed aware he was bombing. He repeatedly asked the silent crowd who had written his speech, even going so far as to explain a joke about a senator having sex with his wife. ‘Does anybody get that? I thought that was actually pretty good. That was actually the only thing I thought was good in this whole freaking stupid speech,’ he said.
Controversial Moments
Trump’s speech was not without its controversial moments. He attacked Chuck Schumer, using ‘Palestinian’ as a slur to mock the New York senator. He fixated on CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins’ looks, instructing her to smile more before delivering a clumsy joke comparing her to trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney. He also said Ilhan Omar should ‘get out of our country.’
The ballroom remained mostly silent throughout these remarks. When the camera cut to the room, attendees sat stone-faced or looked at their phones. Even the White House efforts to stuff the venue with cabinet members and West Wing aides didn’t save Trump from bombing.
The WHCA’s Response
The WHCA has drawn criticism for hosting Trump at the dinner. Days before, a group of 500 journalists, including Ann Curry and Jim Acosta, signed an open letter calling on the WHCA to ‘forcefully demonstrate opposition to President Trump’s efforts to trample freedom of the press.’
CBS News Senior White House Correspondent and WHCA president Weijia Jiang, in an interview with C-SPAN, called the letter ‘disappointing’ and said it was ‘based on the premise that we weren’t going to say anything about the current environment, and that’s a false premise.’
Throughout the night, there were thinly veiled efforts to impress upon Trump the importance of the press. An AI video of Thomas Jefferson aired in the middle of the dinner, delivering a message about the importance of a free press. The video featured clips of Trump arguing with reporters, including his infamous clash with Jim Acosta, and clips of Trump’s predecessors extolling the value of journalists that cover the powerful.
Jiang also tried her hand at flattery in her introductory remarks. ‘President Trump, thank you,’ she said warmly. ‘Thank you for being here again. Thank you for all of your support as we rescheduled this dinner.’ She recalled the night’s impromptu briefing at the White House after the shooting attempt in April.
The stiffest confrontation of the evening came when CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer took the stage to hand out the night’s awards. As Trump sat and watched, Blitzer presented honors to journalists who report on his administration, reading out in uncomfortable detail the revelations of their coverage. Trump quickly filed a $20 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal after an award was presented for their investigation of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
For the last decade, Trump has effectively held the press hostage. The strange symbiosis reached its apogee on Friday night. The president, wearing a red ‘TRUMP 2028’ hat, told the press they should be thanking him. After all, he’s been ratings gold for the news networks and subscriptions crack for newspapers and magazines. ‘When I’m gone, you’re all gonna be broke, your business model is gonna be finished,’ the president said.
