The White House correspondents' dinner returned with the media at the center of the spotlight, and the White House correspondents' dinner quickly turned into another round of Donald Trump’s barbs at the press. The president used the annual gathering to needle reporters, praise some of the people in the room, and revisit the tense relationship he has long had with major news organizations.
Trump sat among journalists from outlets he has clashed with, including The New York Times, CNN and The Wall Street Journal, as awards were handed out. He opened with a lighter touch, saying that “the second time is always better” and adding that he respects “most of them.” The mood changed as he moved into familiar attacks on “fake news” and claimed many in the room suffered from what he called “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
Unlike the usual format for the annual gala, this year’s event came after the first dinner was cancelled because of a shooting three months earlier. The rescheduled gathering was held at the Waldorf Astoria, a few miles from the Washington Hilton, where the original event had been set to take place. White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang of CBS News said the dinner would return to the Hilton next year, and she said she would “refuse to let an act of violence have the final word.”
The White House correspondents' dinner also became a stage for honoring law enforcement and reporters alike. Trump gave an award to Victor Gonzalez of the U.S. Secret Service, who was shot at the scene during the earlier incident. He also stood and shook hands with award winners, including a Wall Street Journal team recognized for coverage of Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Security around the event was visibly tighter than in a normal year. Several blocks near the hotel were closed off, police and National Guard members were present, and guests went through screening twice. Attendees showed QR codes and identification, received wristbands, and at one point were directed to move in a single-file line past two Secret Service officers carrying rifles. The heavier precautions reflected the criticism that security at the Hilton had been inadequate after the April shooting.
