Trump says White House dinner had biggest ‘TDS’ crowd yet
President Donald Trump says White House Correspondents Association Dinner guests are “the largest group of Trump derangement syndrome people ever put together at one time.” At his first-ever WHCA dinner Friday in Washington, D.C., Trump delivered a roughly hour-long speech that mocked the press, skipped a traditional comedian roast, and jabbed journalists and celebrities.
Key Takeaways
- Trump attended his first White House Correspondents Association Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in D.C. after the April event was rescheduled.
- He spoke for about 64 minutes and called the room the largest group of “Trump derangement syndrome” people ever assembled.
- The WHCA skipped a comedian roast; mentalist Oz Pearlman performed instead.
- Trump insulted journalists, politicians, and celebrities, and said he plans to return in 2027.
What did Trump say at the White House Correspondents Dinner?
According to Variety, Trump opened by saying he was “delighted” to be there and respected “most” of the attendees, even if he disliked some. He then pivoted hard against the press, branding coverage “fake news” and comparing media awards to “made-up stories like the Academy Awards.”
He claimed that without him, newsrooms would collapse: “When I’m gone. You’re all going to be broke.” Trump also said he had “given up” on traditional media and boasted about being “number one on TikTok.” He quipped that the ballroom was “the really the largest group of Trump derangement syndrome people ever put together at one time,” drawing scattered laughter.
Why did this year’s WHCA dinner matter for media watchers?
It was Trump’s first appearance at the annual gala. He said he skipped past dinners because he felt the press treated him “very, very unfairly.” Friday’s event was a make-up date after the April 25 gathering was interrupted by an apparent assassination attempt; Trump thanked law enforcement who subdued the suspect.
Outgoing WHCA president Weijia Jiang of CBS News opened the night and co-hosted with Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich. For readers tracking how live politics collides with TV and streaming news cycles, more alerts land on BlasterPost’s Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Trump noted the association chose not to book a comedian, dismissing names such as Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and Stephen Colbert as “angry” and “not funny.” Mentalist Oz Pearlman performed instead of a classic roast.
Who else did Trump single out in his remarks?
Variety reported personal jabs at CNN’s Don Lemon and Kaitlan Collins, plus California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Chuck Schumer, Rosie O’Donnell, Jake Tapper, and Bruce Springsteen. He praised CBS News’ Bari Weiss and joked Paramount CEO David Ellison might rename the event the “Trump White House Correspondents’ Dinner.”
Wall Street Journal reporters who won a Katharine Graham Award for a story on a purported Trump-Epstein birthday letter shook hands with Trump; he has sued over that reporting. Near the end, he joked about a fourth term, donned a “Trump 2028” hat, repeated his false claim that he won in 2020, and said he intends to return in 2027.