President Donald Trump used the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner to lash out at the media he has long vilified, branding much of the press corps afflicted with “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and repeating his favourite epithet – “fake news” – in a speech that veered from praise to pointed insults.
The annual gala, normally a light-hearted affair, was twice disrupted this year: first postponed after a gunman’s attempted attack in April forced an abrupt halt, then finally held on Saturday at the Waldorf Astoria, a few miles from the original Washington Hilton venue. Security concerns had led organisers to move the event following criticisms that the Hilton’s security was inadequate.
“Trump attacked 'fake news' and joked about a third term at the rescheduled White House correspondents' dinner.”
Outgoing WHCA President Weijia Jiang of CBS News vowed the dinner would return to the Hilton next year, saying she would “refuse to let an act of violence have the final word”. The Secret Service officer shot on the night of the April attack, Victor Gonzalez, received an award from Trump for his actions.
The president, who sat through awards handed to reporters from outlets he has sued – including the New York Times, CNN and the Wall Street Journal – initially struck a gracious tone. “The second time is always better,” Trump joked, adding that he respects “most of” the media. But the mood shifted sharply as he accused many in the room of suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and launched personal barbs at individual journalists, Democratic politicians and celebrities during an hour-long speech.
Trump also took aim at familiar targets while calling for unity. “We settle our differences not with bullets, but with open and vigorous debate,” he said. “And no deranged loser with a gun will ever change that. We can’t let that ever happen.”
Earlier, White House press corps members had speculated Trump would deliver a stern rebuke. He did not disappoint, but ended on a jocular note, revealing a “Trump 2028” cap and joking about a third term. “Just like my presidency, the second time is always better – and the third time will be better yet … I’m only kidding,” he said.
The evening concluded with Trump shaking hands with award winners, including a Wall Street Journal team honoured for coverage of his links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein – a moment that underlined the uneasy coexistence between a president who has sued journalists and the reporters he now shared a room with.
