President Donald Trump has announced he will attend and speak at this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, his first appearance at the event as president after previously avoiding it during his first term and again last year.
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The decision represents a marked departure from a long-standing boycott that symbolized his hostile relationship with the national press corps. The annual dinner, a fixture on Washington’s political calendar since the early 20th century, is scheduled for April 25.
Trump’s turnaround after years of criticism
In a post on Truth Social, Trump confirmed his attendance, writing: “The White House Correspondents’ Association has very nicely asked me to be the honoree at this year’s dinner.”
He added that he would be “honored to accept their invitation” and later described it as his “honor” in a follow-up post, saying the gathering is “a long and glorious tradition, having begun in 1924 under then-President Calvin Coolidge.”
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The dinner has been held annually since 1924, three years after its debut, when Coolidge became the first sitting president to attend. With Trump’s decision, every president since Coolidge has participated at least once.
Acknowledging his earlier refusals, Trump wrote that “Because the press treated me extremely badly,” he “boycotted the event and never attended.”
“However, I’m looking forward to being with everyone this year. Hopefully it will be something very special.”
Trump’s strained history with the press
Often dubbed the “Washington Ball,” the White House Correspondents’ Dinner traditionally brings together journalists, elected officials and public figures for an evening that mixes political satire with speeches celebrating freedom of the press and the First Amendment.
President Trump has long derided the event as a symbol of what he characterizes as an elitist and hostile media culture. During his presidency, he frequently criticized journalists and urged his supporters not to trust mainstream news organizations.
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The dinner itself was not without controversy. In 2018, comedian Michelle Wolf delivered a scathingly critical routine targeting Trump, members of his administration and the media. After backlash, the Correspondents’ Association moved away from featuring comedians for several years and instead invited speakers focused on journalism and public service.
The event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. President Joe Biden attended each of the last three dinners of his term.
Echoes of 2011 and political symbolism
Trump’s complicated history with the dinner predates his presidency. In 2011, he attended as a guest during the administration of Barack Obama. In a widely watched speech, Obama made sharp jokes at Trump’s expense.
“Say what you will about Mr. Trump, he would certainly bring some change to the White House. Let’s see what we did up there.”
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The screens then flashed an imaginary White House with a giant neon sign reading “Trump White House Hotel Casino Golf Course,” complete with gold columns and a chandelier covering the entrance — a moment that has since acquired near-mythical status in Washington political culture.
A remodeled White House?
The satirical imagery gained new resonance during Trump’s second term as he oversaw an extensive redevelopment of the grounds and interiors of the White House.
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Recent changes include paving over a section of the lawn near the Rose Garden to accommodate a terrace reminiscent of his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida, attaching partisan plaques to presidential portraits along the colonnade, and introducing prominent gold decorative elements to the Oval Office. The east wing was demolished to make way for a new ballroom.
After returning from a weekend at Mar-a-Lago, Trump stopped to admire the newly installed statues of Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin near the Rose Garden.
“Unbelievable sculptures. Come and see them,” he told reporters.
