President Trump is gearing up for his inaugural White House Correspondents’ Dinner as president this Saturday, where he’s expected to critique the “fake news” media.
It seems he’s ready to deliver a roast, despite having skipped this event during his first term and last year’s gathering. Just this week, he’s been throwing some verbal darts at reporters.
“You are truly a disgrace,” he remarked to one reporter on Thursday.
This dinner is significant for Trump, who was once a target of jokes from former President Barack Obama during the 2011 event, a moment that reportedly sparked his ambition to run for president in the first place.
“This is where President Trump really came into his own. I’m curious if Mr. Obama will be in the audience and perhaps even heckle him,” said John Feely, a seasoned Republican strategist, on Friday.
He added that the evening “should be quite the show.” While there’s clearly a mutual disdain between Trump and the media, he emphasized that both need each other in some way.
Trump mentioned he “loved” the 2011 dinner when he attended as a guest of The Washington Post.
On Saturday, he seemed to have Obama on his mind again. He shared a post on Truth Social featuring an image labeled “Trump” next to another one depicting “Hussein Obama,” illustrating how the National Mall’s new reflecting pool will look.
Cable networks have been hyping up this confrontation for over a day, suggesting Trump might take to the microphone for an extended time, giving him the chance to jab at reporters in front of a national audience.
Before heading to Washington, Trump attended a cryptocurrency event at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday morning.
In the afternoon, he’s set to travel to the Washington Hilton on Air Force One, accompanied by a handful of White House reporters. The Hilton is known for its grand black-tie events and boasts one of D.C.’s largest ballrooms, accommodating over 4,000 attendees.
Big names and media executives have already descended upon Washington, D.C., while various parties have kicked off this so-called “nerd’s prom” for White House correspondents’ weekend.
This year, Trump’s appearance is attracting more interest than usual. He has frequently criticized what he dubs “fake news,” taken legal action against major media organizations, and even barred the Associated Press from his press pool over a terminology dispute.
Even with these tensions, he’s offered select access to reporters within the Oval Office and during routine press interactions.
The White House Correspondents’ Association attempted a truce by inviting Israeli “mentalist” Oz Perlman. However, rather than roast Trump, Perlman is slated to showcase a mind-reading act to surprise guests.
That said, the awards slated for journalists might sting the president, and his participation in the traditional presentation remains unconfirmed.
“I know the president is truly looking forward to it,” said White House press secretary Caroline Levitt to reporters on Friday. “His speech is expected to be very interesting. That’s all I can share.”
She further stated that now that he’s president, he’s ready to make a return. “Everyone should prepare; he’s going to roast. He won’t hold back,” she added, noting that he has a solid team assisting him with the speech.
