Trump correspondents dinner speech mixes praise, insults and 2028 joke

President Donald Trump returned to the Trump correspondents dinner Friday night, using a rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association event to praise some journalists, mock others and joke about seeking another term. The appearance mattered because it put Trump in the same room with reporters and outlets he has criticized, sued or sought to restrict since beginning his second term, according to Fortune.

Trump spoke for just over an hour at the Waldorf Astoria, the former Trump International Hotel, after the original April dinner was postponed because of a shooting threat. He told the crowd he had dropped harsher material from the speech planned for April and referred to the “attempted mass murder” that organizers said disrupted that earlier event.

What happened at the Trump correspondents dinner?

Trump opened by praising the decision to hold the dinner after the postponement, then shifted into a mix of jokes and insults aimed at political figures, media personalities and his own staff. Fortune reported that the audience response moved from friendly laughter to more muted reaction as the remarks continued.

His targets included Bruce Springsteen, former President Barack Obama, CNN journalist Kaitlan Collins, late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel, Rep. Ilhan Omar, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. When one line did not land, Trump turned on the prepared remarks, saying it was the only part he thought was good in the “stupid speech” written for him.

Trump also questioned his role in the evening, asking the room whether the event was supposed to be fun and whether he was expected to act as a comedian. He appeared more at ease discussing the ballroom, saying he knew the site well because he built it.

The president made brief references to the Iran war and a ballroom project at the White House. He also joked about a third term, which the Constitution’s 22nd Amendment bars, saying a third presidency would be better before adding that he was kidding. At the end, Fortune reported, he put on a red “Trump 2028” cap and jokingly called it a scoop that he was running again.

Why was the dinner rescheduled?

The White House Correspondents’ Association moved the event after the April dinner was disrupted by a gunman. At Friday’s dinner, outgoing WHCA president Weijia Jiang of CBS News said the press corps was back and would not let violence have the final word.

The rescheduled event was smaller and more controlled than the original gathering, with about 700 guests, tighter security, one entrance, two ID checks, no red carpet and no separate cocktail receptions, according to Fortune. Trump entered to polite applause and sat through more than an hour of awards, shaking hands with winners.

Among the honorees was Secret Service agent Victor Gonzales, who Jiang said was struck in his protective vest while staffing a checkpoint in April and helped stop the attacker. The Washington Hilton staff, who worked at the original event site, also received an award for their conduct under pressure.

Why did the event draw criticism?

The dinner has long faced criticism from people who say it makes journalists appear too close to the officials and public figures they cover. Kelly McBride, an ethics expert at the Poynter Institute, told Fortune during deliberations over rescheduling that the event can damage public trust by making reporters look like friends with their subjects.

The dinner also came amid heightened conflict between Trump and the press. Fortune reported that Trump’s pressure on media organizations has included actions against White House reporters, Federal Communications Commission matters and lawsuits.

Trump closed by telling journalists he respected their profession, while also saying their finances would suffer when he was no longer around. He ended the night by saying the event was worse than he had expected.

This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.