Trump attacks media and jokes about third term at rescheduled correspondents dinner

Trump attacks media and jokes about third term at rescheduled correspondents dinner

US President Donald Trump attacked the "fake news media" and revived talk of serving additional presidential terms during his address at the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Friday, three months after a shooting forced the cancellation of the original event.

Speaking at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington, the 80-year-old president told the audience of journalists and media executives: "This place is really the largest group of Trump derangement syndrome people ever put together at one time."

The event was moved from its traditional home at the Washington Hilton, where the annual dinner has been held every year since 1972, to the Waldorf Astoria, a building that previously operated as the Trump International Hotel until May 2022. The Trump Organization sold the lease to CGI Merchant Group for $375 million before the hotel reopened as the Waldorf Astoria in June 2022.

Trump began with measured remarks reflecting on the April 25 incident that forced his evacuation. "The show must go on," he said. But he quickly shifted to attacking perceived enemies in what became an often rambling, campaign-style speech.

Constitutional limits and third-term speculation

The president repeatedly joked about serving beyond the two-term limit established by the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution, which was ratified on February 27, 1951, and explicitly prohibits presidents from serving more than two elected terms.

"Just like my presidency, the second time is always better. And the third time is better yet," Trump said, before adding: "I'm only kidding." Later in his hour-long address, he pulled out a red "Trump 2028" cap and announced his "intention to run for a fourth term as president of the United States."

Trump had earlier laughed while shaking hands with a Wall Street Journal team that had won awards for reporting on his connections to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. He later remarked: "This has not been an easy evening, all these awards," as journalists received prizes for their coverage of his second presidency.

Heightened security after April attack

Security was dramatically increased for the rescheduled dinner. The April shooting marked the third apparent assassination attempt on Trump since 2024, following incidents in July 2024 near Butler, Pennsylvania, and September 2024 at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

California man Cole Allen, 31, faces four federal charges including attempted assassination of the president, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Police and National Guard officers sealed off nearby roads and established a major security cordon around the venue, though guests faced only cursory checks upon entry. US Secret Service Director Sean Curran, who was appointed as the agency's 28th director on January 22, 2025, was spotted monitoring arrivals. Curran had previously been at Trump's side during the July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, where he helped protect the then-candidate.

"Let's try this again," said CBS correspondent Weijia Jiang, the outgoing president of the White House Correspondents' Association, who had also presided over the disrupted April dinner. "Tonight our message is this: We are back. We will not be intimidated. We will not let an act of violence have the final word."

Incoming WHCA president Jacqui Heinrich confirmed the event would return to the Washington Hilton next year. The Hilton has particular historical significance as the site of the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in 1981.

Threat environment remains elevated

Curran defended security measures at the original April event, telling reporters "it did work, the system worked." He noted that security cordons had prevented the alleged attacker from reaching the main hall.

However, Curran, who was present at Trump's side during the 2024 Butler incident, warned that current threats against senior US officials remain at unprecedented levels. "The threat picture and environment is as large as I've ever seen it," he said, describing threats as "off the charts."

Despite the combative tone throughout most of his speech, which recycled elements from his campaign rallies, Trump concluded by saying he had "tremendous respect" for the journalists present, while joking: "When I'm gone you're all going to be broke." He confirmed he planned to attend next year's dinner as well.

The rescheduled event also featured a performance by mentalist Oz Pearlman and included a tribute to a Secret Service agent who helped stop the alleged gunman in April.