‘The show must go on’: Trump returns to rescheduled White House press gala | Donald Trump News
Trump Returns to White House Correspondents’ Dinner Three Months After Violence
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump made a notable return to the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Friday, three months after a gunman disrupted the event.
“At the time of the incident, I said the show must go on,” Trump remarked at the beginning of his speech following the awards ceremony, where several journalists, including CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, were honored.
The annual dinner, characterized by its mix of celebration and controversy, was originally scheduled for April but was postponed after an armed individual attempted to breach security during the proceedings, reportedly aiming to assassinate Trump.
“Just like my presidency, the second time is always better, and the third time will be better yet,” Trump quipped, raising his hands to the crowd before adding, “I’m only kidding.” The president, limited to two terms by the Constitution, has playfully suggested the possibility of a third run.
This rescheduled event took place at the Waldorf Astoria hotel, with around 700 attendees, significantly fewer than the guest list for the previously planned gathering.
Trump described the April incident as “an assault on our democracy itself” and praised several aides—Pete Hegseth, Steve Miller, and Tom Holman—for their bravery during the crisis, stating, “They were standing on tables when most of you were under the tables.”
The alleged shooter, 23-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, reportedly attacked a security gate at the venue while armed and is facing federal charges of attempting to assassinate the president. Prosecutors allege he shot and injured a Secret Service officer before being apprehended.
Trump’s remarks also included humorous asides about the chaos of the night, recalling, “Many people yelled, ‘Get down. Get down,’ which caused Nicki Minaj to start twerking.” His audience responded with muted laughter as he joked, “She’s the only one who knew what that meant.”
The president also seized the opportunity to target political opponents under the guise of humor, referring to California Governor Gavin Newsom as “newscum” and calling into question Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s intelligence. He also pretended an audience member was calling Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker a “fat pig,” distancing himself from the insult. Trump derisively referred to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer using the term “Palestinian” as an insult.
Upon his entrance to the ballroom, Trump received polite applause and commented, “This is the largest gathering of people with Trump derangement syndrome,” directing his remark at the journalists present.
While Trump has historically maintained a negative relationship with the dinner, he described this year’s event as a “very good thing” and a “HOT ticket.”
Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association and a CBS News reporter, thanked Trump for attending and emphasized the importance of resilience in the face of adversity: “Tonight our message is this: We are back. We will not be intimidated. We refuse to let an act of violence have the final word.”
Trump’s enthusiastic participation marks a significant shift from his first term, during which he deemed the event “dead” and opted not to attend from 2017 to 2020.
The dinner has sparked ongoing debate among media professionals, with some journalists advocating for a separation between reporters and the politicians they cover. In light of recent events, calls for reconsidering the future of the dinner have only intensified.
