Trump's 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner speech and controversies
Consensus Summary
The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, originally scheduled for April 25, was rescheduled to July 24 after a shooting disrupted the event, forcing Trump and his cabinet to evacuate. Trump’s speech at the rescheduled dinner in [DATE UNVERIFIED] was widely criticized for being unfunny and tasteless, despite moments of conciliation with journalists who had won awards for critical reporting. Both SMH and THEAGE highlight Trump’s lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over a 2003 Jeffrey Epstein story, worth $US10 billion ($14 billion), and his repeated attacks on CNN host Kaitlan Collins, including calling her award coverage of Zelensky’s visit 'last year' fake. ABC provides additional context, such as Trump’s promise to return 'next year' and his jokes about journalists needing bulletproof vests, but also notes his original speech was intended to be more critical. The event, held for more than a century, was marked by heightened security and a focus on press freedom, though Trump’s speech fell short of expectations, delivering recycled jokes and political barbs instead of levity.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was rescheduled after a gunman disrupted the original event in April
- Trump referenced a $US10 billion ($14 billion) lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over a 2003 Jeffrey Epstein story
- Trump wore a 'Trump 2028' cap during his speech
- The dinner included awards for journalists covering Trump’s past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, including a 2003 'birthday book' story
- Trump criticized CNN host Kaitlan Collins, calling her award coverage of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s White House visit 'last year' fake
- Trump made a joke about Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr 'personally running over the cow' for the dinner’s beef tenderloin
- The dinner was originally scheduled for April 25 and rescheduled to July 24
- The event has been held for more than a century
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Trump blamed his speechwriters for his jokes, saying 'Who the hell wrote that?' after a failed joke about Elizabeth Warren and a totem pole
- Trump called Democratic senator Adam Schiff a liar and a 'watermelon head'
- Trump mentioned the war in Iran and the weather during a UFC fight at the White House
- Trump said the media would miss him when he’s gone, claiming 'You’re all going to be broke'
- Trump left the stage to his preferred theme song, Y.M.C.A.
- Trump called California’s Gavin Newsom 'Newscum' in his speech
- Trump attempted a joke comparing Kaitlan Collins to transgender actress Dylan Mulvaney
- Trump mentioned the image of him wearing a 'Trump 2028' hat leaving the stage was a 'bad look' for the White House Correspondents’ Association
- Trump said his original speech was going to be 'a doozy' and that he was 'psyched' to 'rip people' at the first event
- Trump joked about journalists needing 'bulletproof vests' and 'shoes' to match them
- Trump poked fun at mentalist Oz Pearlman for not foreseeing the April shooting
- Trump said he was 'probably being a little bit oversensitive' with regard to negative press
- Trump promised to return to the dinner 'next year'
- The dinner honored Secret Service officer Victor Gonzales, who was shot during the April attack
- The event was moved to the smaller Waldorf Astoria after the disruption
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- SMH and THEAGE say the dinner was rescheduled after a gunman and top administration officials disrupted the previous event, but ABC specifies the original event was disrupted by a shooting on April 25, forcing evacuation of Trump and his cabinet
- SMH and THEAGE mention Trump’s speech included a joke about an 'ageing senator needing to climb the stairs to have sex with his wife,' but ABC does not reference this specific joke
- ABC states Trump said his speech was 'toned down' since the first event, while SMH and THEAGE do not mention this comparison
- ABC notes Trump said he was 'psyched' to 'rip people' at the original event, but SMH and THEAGE do not include this quote or context
Source Articles
‘Who the hell wrote that?’ Trump bombs at correspondents dinner with unfunny, tasteless speech
The evening started with promise, but descended into failed jokes, recycled material and a truly awful attack by the US president on CNN host Kaitlan Collins.
‘Who the hell wrote that?’ Trump bombs at correspondents dinner with unfunny, tasteless speech
The evening started with promise, but descended into failed jokes, recycled material and a truly awful attack by the US president on CNN host Kaitlan Collins.
Trump mixes jokes with barbs at press freedom dinner
US President Donald Trump has poked fun at the press during a redo of the White House Correspondents' Association dinner after a shooting forced the suspension of the original event in April.