Trump will attend White House Correspondents' Dinner
The president will break with his previous boycott of the event he once called a "bad deal," citing the nation's 250th birthday. Over 350 journalists and organizations have signed a letter protesting his attendance.
Apr 25th 2026 · United States
President Donald Trump will attend the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Saturday, April 25, at the Washington Hilton, marking his first appearance as president at an event he boycotted during his first term and in 2025. Every president since the WHCA's inception has attended the annual celebration of press freedom, making Trump's previous absences notable. Trump explained his turnaround in a Truth Social post, saying he previously skipped the event because the press was "extraordinarily bad" to him, but accepted this year "in honor of our Nation's 250th Birthday." He is scheduled to speak for about 40 minutes, and the evening will feature mentalist Oz Pearlman as host rather than a traditional comedian. Trump's relationship with the press has been marked by significant conflict: he has filed lawsuits against media outlets including ABC, CBS, and the Wall Street Journal, dismissed coverage as "fake news," personally attacked journalists, and restricted reporter access at the Pentagon. His administration banned the Associated Press from the White House press pool. His FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to investigate ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, and the FBI investigated a New York Times reporter over a critical story. However, Trump also provides reporters more direct access than recent predecessors, regularly answering questions on his cell phone. Over 350 journalists, including Dan Rather, and organizations like the Society of Professional Journalists signed a letter calling on the WHCA to demonstrate opposition to Trump's "efforts to trample freedom of the press," with some planning to wear First Amendment-themed lapel pins. The dinner holds particular significance in Trump's political narrative: in 2011 as a private citizen, he attended when Barack Obama roasted him from the stage, and some political observers contend that event helped crystallize his decision to run for president in 2016, a theory Trump denies. WHCA President Weijia Jiang stated the dinner "is a reminder of what a free press means to this country and why it must endure... Not for the media or the president, but for the people who depend on it." Red carpet arrivals begin at 5 p.m. ET with Trump speaking after 10 p.m. REUTERS