Former President Donald Trump commended journalists for their work during his address at the rescheduled White House correspondents’ dinner, even as he maintained his criticism of media coverage. The event, held at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C., marked a return to the annual celebration of press freedom after April’s original gathering was disrupted by a shooting incident.
The dinner followed the Trump administration’s recent withdrawal of a controversial subpoena targeting reporters’ sources. Despite this, Trump reiterated skepticism toward the press, asserting, “Don’t believe the fake news,” while discussing his foreign policy stance on Iran.
The evening honored journalists who exposed significant stories about the administration, including the Wall Street Journal’s reporting on a 2003 letter Trump allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump has faced lawsuits over such coverage, which he often discredits as false.
Weija Jiang, outgoing White House Correspondents’ Association president, emphasized the mutual responsibility between the press and government to serve the public. The event also paid tribute to Victor Gonzales, a wounded Secret Service officer, and hotel staff who assisted during the April shooting.
Security was heightened at the rescheduled dinner, with Secret Service Director Sean Curran acknowledging preparations for potential threats. This marked Trump’s first appearance at the event in either of his two terms, as he previously boycotted the dinners and frequently clashed with the press corps.
Notable absentees included Melania Trump, JD Vance, and Marco Rubio, who had attended the original April event. The administration had previously restricted media access, including barring the Associated Press from the White House press pool.
