: Saturday, July 25, 2026 12:53 PM
Washington. US President Donald Trump said on Friday (local time) that he will attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner next year also. He made jokes, political comments and appealed for unity during his first full appearance at the annual event as president. He specifically mentioned the firing that had caused the previous dinner to be postponed. Addressing hundreds of journalists, administration officials and other guests, Trump confirmed that he will continue to be a part of this annual tradition in the future. Earlier in April, an attacker had opened fire during the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner. However, law enforcement agencies caught him in time. After this the event was postponed for some time. At that time the US President had talked about organizing the dinner later.
“We’ll be back here next year,” Trump said. The people present applauded his statement. Recalling the attack, Trump called it a direct attack on democracy and said that this ceremony is a message that political violence can neither intimidate elected leaders nor the press.
He said, “Tonight we are united again and respond to this heinous attack with unwavering resolve. We will not bow before political violence. We resolve our differences not with bullets, but through open and robust debate.”
He called the attacker a crazy, defeated man with a gun. Secret Service Officer Victor Gonzalez was injured during the shooting. President Trump thanked Gonzalez, the Secret Service, the Metropolitan Police and other law enforcement officers, saying, “Victor didn’t even want to go to the hospital for a checkup. We salute you and thank you with our hearts.”
Those attending the dinner also gave a standing ovation for Gonzalez and the other officers recognized at the evening. The US President acknowledged that the shooting caused him to abandon a more aggressive speech he had originally prepared for the dinner.
He said, “I know one thing. I would never have been able to give the speech that I had prepared, it was going to be too powerful. I was too excited. Instead, if you don’t mind, I might as well give some sharp criticism.”
During his hour-long conversation, Trump made jokes as well as criticized political opponents and members of the media. Along with this, the work of the White House Press Corps was also appreciated.
He said of the journalists present, “I respect most of them. You do a great job.” He also joked about his relationship with reporters and said that White House Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt has one of the toughest jobs.
The US President said of Levitt, “He has to deal with all of you all the time.”
Trump also praised WHCA President Weijia Jiang and said their respect for each other had grown after working together after the firing. He said, “We kind of became friends. Sometimes in times of stress, you become friends. We even had a little fight together. That was great.”
She also congratulated incoming WHCA President Jackie Heinrich and said that she can be very tough and very badass as a reporter.
The President suggested that a future White House Correspondents’ Dinner could be held in a new ballroom being built at the White House.
“We’re ahead of schedule. We’re on budget,” he said of the project. The US President said he sees no reason why dinners cannot take place there in the future.
Trump concluded by expressing confidence about the direction of the country, saying, “We are on the cusp of a great change. This is the Golden Age of America.”
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Web Title-Trump attends Correspondents’ Dinner for the first time since shooting; vows not to bow to political violence
