5 standout moments from Trump’s fiery WHCA dinner speech

Administration 5 standout moments from Trump’s fiery WHCA dinner speech Comments: by Steff Danielle Thomas - 07/25/26 5:42 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Steff Danielle Thomas - 07/25/26 5:42 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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President Trump was given a second chance Friday evening to deliver a speech before the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner — his first time addressing the crowd as president.

Three months after the first event was derailed by an assassination attempt, Trump took to the podium at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington, acknowledging he had to amend his remarks in light of the April shooting.

His words were mixed with familiar jabs at the media, political opponents and even himself.

Here are some of the standout moments.

Tribute to law enforcement after April shooting

President Donald Trump greets U.S. Secret Service agent Victor Gonzalez at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, Friday, July 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Following the dinner portion, which included steak and lobster, the event began on a somber note with a tribute to the U.S. Secret Service, law enforcement officers and hotel staff who responded to the April 24 incident.

One Secret Service agent, Officer Victor Gonzales, was awarded the WHCA President’s Award for Exceptional Service. Gonzales was shot while confronting the gunman, but his bulletproof vest likely saved his life.

“That evening in April did not unfold as planned, but it ended exact like it was supposed to. Twenty-six hundred guests plus hundreds of others who were working that night got to go home unharmed,” Jiang said Friday. “And that was made possible by the brave men and women of law enforcement and the United States Secret Service.”

“One officer placed himself directly in harm’s way and engaged the armed suspect. Even after gunfire struck his protective vest, he stayed in the fight and the attacker was stopped,” she added later, speaking of Gonzales.

The WHCA leader also praised the staff at the Washington Hilton for continuing to care for the guests despite the chaos. The accolades were met with a standing ovation.

Trump began his remarks after the awards program expressing gratitude for the Secret Service and protection over his family and others.

“In recent months, they’ve repeatedly responded to threats with speed and professionalism and extraordinary courage,” he said of the agents. “And there is no better example of that than Officer Victor Gonzales, who we just met. It was amazing.”

The president also quipped about the speed of the suspect, later identified as Cole Allen, when he charged the checkpoint.

“He was fast. When you looked at that, you had to look at it about 10 times before you really saw what was going on,” he said. “He was quick. Nasty … but Officer Gonzales engaged the attacker without hesitation and took a bullet.”

A video recapping the incident paired with AI-generated videos of the founding fathers marking America’s 250th anniversary and how far press freedom has gone was also a sight to see.

‘Trump 2028’ hat revives third term chatter

President Donald Trump speaks at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, Friday, July 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

One of the night’s most memorable visuals — aside from the stunning Czech crystal chandeliers overhead — was Trump’s signature red hat.

Instead of the familiar “Make America Great Again” slogan, this version simply read: “Trump 2028.”

“When I’m not around, you’re going to be broke. There’s not going to be anyone to report on,” he joked.

“To show just how much I care about the press, and I want to save your ratings, I am pleased to announce my intention to, and this is somewhat of a scoop, my intention to run for a fourth term as president of the United States,” Trump said before producing the cap from behind the lectern and placing it on his head.

“I won three times and now, I’m going to do it again,” he added later, likely including the 2020 presidential election which he lost to former President Biden. Though, he maintains without evidence that the race was stolen from him. “I’m gonna do it. It should be easy. I’m getting very good at running for president.”

The quip was met with a room full of laughter. The president several times in the speech insisted the idea was just a ruse.

The moment was more than just a visual punchline, however, as he has repeatedly flirted with the prospect of remaining in office after 2028, at times joking about a third term while also insisting he intends to abide by the Constitution.

Still, the hat revived a familiar political conversation after the Trump administration made election integrity a larger focus ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Trump reacts to award-winning Epstein reporting

President Donald Trump greets staff members of the Wall Street Journal, who were awarded the Katherine Graham award for courage and accountability, at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, at the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, Friday, July 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

The often-contentious relationship between Trump and the media was on full display when the Wall Street Journal was honored for its reporting on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer welcomed several reporters from the Journal to the stage to accept the Katharine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability. The winning project centered on an uncovered album created for Epstein’s 50th birthday that included a letter reportedly signed by Trump.

The president has denied the claim and hit the outlet with $10 billion defamation lawsuit. Despite some legal hurdles, the challenge is ongoing.

“The Journal’s courageous reporting on President Trump’s past relationship with financier Jeffrey Epstein triggered the release of the so-called Epstein files, thousands of documents that might otherwise have remained hidden from the public,” Blitzer told the crowd.

He noted that the suit revealed the home address of one of the journalists, leading to her family needing to be relocated. The Journal, the CNN host continued, was also temporarily barred from traveling on Air Force One.

Blitzer added, “But the reporters continue to file revelatory stories.”

Trump looked at White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and raised his eyebrows.

The awkward moment did not last long after the president raised his hands in fake surrender, sparking laughter. He rose from his seat, applauded the reporters and offered a brief, “congratulations.”

Trump jokes fail to ignite crowd

President Donald Trump speaks at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, Friday, July 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Trump came prepared with a healthy list of targets to roast, but many of his ribs drew more polite applause than laughs. Some lines were met with silence.

The president found early success with self-deprecating jokes, drawing some of the night’s strongest response as he poked fun at himself and the unusual circumstances surrounding the make-up dinner.

His quip about Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. brought in some of the most laughs.

“I want you all to know that Bobby Kennedy, who’s right here, personally ran over the cow with his car,” he said, looking at the steak still on a guest’s plate. “And he cut it up, and he brought it here for you to eat tonight. So it’s very fresh.”

But as the remarks shifted to familiar names — including Biden, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D), California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) — the enthusiasm noticeably cooled.

After a joke about Christie’s weight failed to land, Trump stopped to ask, “Who the hell wrote that line?” Later, after another muted response, he quipped, “This has not been an easy evening.”

He also alluded to his long-standing feud with CNN, singling out chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins. Looking toward her table, the president remarked that Collins “never smiles” before comparing her to transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney — a line that left much of the room silent.

The war in Iran also briefly came up in the speech, showing Trump couldn’t resist weaving in the biggest story facing his administration.

Mentalist puts Blanche, Waltz to the test

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, President Donald Trump, and Weijia Jiang watch as Oz Pearlman performs at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, Friday, July 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Emmy-winning mentalist Oz Pearlman, on the other hand, captivated the audience.

While an unconventional choice for the WHCA dinner, the entertainer quickly won over the crowd with a series of mind-reading feats — from accurately naming destinations guests wanted to visit to people they would like to interview or have dinner with.

Among his random volunteers were acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz.

After correctly guessing that Blanche was carrying $85 in cash, Pearlman told him to sign one of the bills as his tablemate acted as a witness. He then asked the top prosecutor, who is awaiting Senate confirmation to serve in the role permanently, to sit on the $20 bill.

Pearlman stunned the audience by identifying the bill’s serial number after leading Waltz through a series of calculations, beginning with adding his favorite number. Audible gasps were heard throughout the room.

A standing ovation capped the performer’s long-awaited return after the April event was cut short.