Trump to Attend White House Correspondents' Dinner for First Time as President

President reverses course, accepts invitation to annual event he previously boycotted

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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President Donald Trump announced he will attend this year's White House Correspondents' Dinner, a notable reversal after boycotting the annual event traditionally attended by presidents during his first term and the first year of his second term. Trump cited the 'extraordinarily bad' treatment he received from the 'FAKE NEWS' media as the reason for his previous boycotts, but now says he looks forward to attending and making the dinner 'the GREATEST, HOTTEST, and MOST SPECTACULAR DINNER, OF ANY KIND, EVER!'

Why it matters

The White House Correspondents' Dinner is a longstanding tradition that brings together the president, the White House press corps, and other prominent figures in Washington. Trump's attendance marks a shift in his relationship with the media, which he has frequently criticized and labeled as 'the enemy of the American people.' This move could signal a thawing of tensions between the administration and the press.

The details

Trump was the first president to not attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner while in office, boycotting the annual Washington gathering during his first term and the first year of his second. He has frequently criticized the event and the news media more broadly. However, in a Truth Social post, Trump said the White House Correspondents Association has 'asked me, very nicely, to be the Honoree at this year's Dinner,' and he has decided to attend.

  • The White House Correspondents' Dinner is set for April 25, 2026 at the Washington Hilton.
  • Trump boycotted the dinner during his first term and the first year of his second term.

The players

Donald Trump

The 46th President of the United States, who has previously boycotted the White House Correspondents' Dinner but is now set to attend.

White House Correspondents' Association

The organization that hosts the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, which they have invited President Trump to attend as the honoree.

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What they’re saying

“The White House Correspondents Association has asked me, very nicely, to be the Honoree at this year's Dinner, a long and storied tradition since it began in 1924, under then President Calvin Coolidge.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States (Truth Social)

“We're happy the president has accepted our invitation and look forward to hosting him.”

— Jiang, CBS News Senior White House Correspondent (CNN)

What’s next

The White House Correspondents' Dinner is scheduled for April 25, 2026 at the Washington Hilton. It remains to be seen how President Trump's attendance will impact the tone and dynamics of the event.

The takeaway

President Trump's decision to attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner for the first time as president represents a significant shift in his relationship with the media, which he has frequently criticized. This move could signal a thawing of tensions between the administration and the press corps, though the event's future tone and dynamics remain to be seen.