Trump to Attend White House Correspondents’ Dinner for First Time

President Donald Trump is set to attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner this Saturday, marking his first appearance at this event as commander-in-chief. He skipped the dinner during his first term in office.

This decision signifies Trump’s return to a long-standing Washington tradition, one often marked by strained relations with the media and the political elite. It also conjures memories of the 2011 dinner, when then-President Barack Obama and comedian Seth Meyers took jabs at him, a moment that has lingered in discussions about Trump’s past.

During that 2011 event, Obama remarked, “Donald Trump is here tonight. I know he’s been getting a little bit of hate lately, but there’s no one more happy and proud to be able to end this birth certificate issue than Donald.” This pointed humor highlighted tensions between Trump and the Washington establishment, which existed even before Trump’s foray into politics.

The barbs thrown that night have been speculated to have even influenced Trump’s decision to run for president, leading to his unexpected victory in 2016. However, Trump has denied these claims, stating in a 2016 interview, “There are many reasons why I’m running, but that’s not one of them.”

Comedian Seth Meyers also weighed in during that dinner, sarcastically noting, “Donald Trump said he was running for president as a Republican, which surprised me because I thought he was just joking.”

This year, Trump expressed that he felt he was treated “disrespectfully and roughly” during past dinners, which he cited as a reason for skipping them while in office. He has since clarified that he took those experiences in stride, saying, “It was actually pretty great, and I actually really, really loved it.”

Now, as part of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, Trump is ready to attend, joined by the First Lady. White House Press Secretary Davis Engle stated that the Correspondents’ Association had graciously invited the President, and he accepted with enthusiasm.

Trump’s absence in previous years mainly stemmed from ongoing tensions with the media, particularly amid reports surrounding the Russia investigation. The annual banquet was also paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and only resumed in 2022 under President Biden’s administration.