At Correspondents’ Dinner, a Rambling Trump Hurls Insults
NYT > U.S. > Politics — 2026-07-24 23:25:00 — www.nytimes.com
Trump Delivers Harsh Attacks and Mixed Messages at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
At the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, President Trump opened his speech by acknowledging the unusual atmosphere, asking, “What do we do here? Is this supposed to be fun? Am I supposed to be serious? Am I supposed to be a comedian?” He promised the audience a mix of tones, but the evening quickly turned contentious.
Ad Hominem Attacks and Political Rhetoric
Throughout his hour-long speech at the Waldorf Astoria, Trump launched a series of ad hominem attacks against political rivals and members of the press. He mocked the appearances and careers of individual reporters in the room and widened his criticism to include longtime political adversaries such as Adam Schiff, Rosie O’Donnell, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Chris Christie, and Jerry Nadler. At one point, Trump bluntly stated, “I hate some people,” as he began targeting Schiff.
Trump’s remarks often mirrored the aggressive rhetoric of his campaign rallies, with little humor or self-deprecation. He compared the “really beat-up faces” of UFC fighters to those of celebrities Bette Midler, Jane Fonda, and Bruce Springsteen, a line that was met with silence rather than laughter.
Mixed Signals Toward the Press
Despite moments of warmth toward journalists, Trump’s combative stance was clear. Just a week earlier, he had called for the revocation of broadcast licenses for “NBC and ABC fake news.” During the dinner, he shook hands with reporters who had received awards for their tough coverage of his administration, but these gestures were fleeting.
An especially tense moment came when CNN’s Wolf Blitzer introduced Wall Street Journal reporters honored for their coverage of Trump’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Blitzer reminded the audience that Trump had filed a $20 billion lawsuit against the Journal, revealing a reporter’s home address and resulting in her family’s relocation. The Journal was subsequently barred from Air Force One. Trump responded with a theatrical gesture, throwing his hands in the air as if to dismiss the controversy.
Legal Actions Against the Press
This month, the Trump administration issued subpoenas for phone records and grand jury testimony from New York Times journalists who reported on security concerns involving Trump’s new Qatari-donated Air Force One. The Times accused the government of trying to intimidate its reporters and successfully fought back in court, leading to the withdrawal of the subpoenas after a federal judge criticized the Justice Department’s handling of the matter.
A Divisive Performance
Trump’s speech, delivered in a ballroom he reminded the audience he once owned, was punctuated by scripted jokes that often fell flat and moments of self-praise. He joked about the “very delicious beef tenderloin” served at the dinner and made a bizarre comment about Bobby Kennedy sourcing the beef himself. About the nation’s health secretary, Trump remarked, “He is a very different kind of a person.”
As the evening wore on, Trump seemed to sense the crowd’s discomfort, at one point admitting, “That was actually the only thing I thought was good in this whole fricking stupid speech. It was the only good one, and that went down with not exactly great laughter.” He ended the night by donning a “Trump 2028” hat, met with a mix of applause, laughter, and blank stares.
Conclusion
President Trump’s appearance at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was marked by personal attacks, legal threats against the press, and a continued campaign against perceived enemies in politics and the media. The evening underscored his ongoing antagonism toward journalists and critics, leaving the audience with a stark reminder of his combative approach to both governance and public discourse.