Trump to Attend White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Ending Years-Long Boycott
President Donald Trump announced on March 2, 2026, that he will attend this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, marking a significant shift after years of boycotting the annual event. The dinner is scheduled for April 25, 2026.
A Reversal of Previous Practice
Trump was the first president to not attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner while in office, skipping the Washington gathering during his first term and the first year of his second. He had frequently criticized both the event and the news media, at times referring to journalists as “the enemy of the American people.”
Invitation and Planned Attendance
According to a post on Truth Social, the White House Correspondents Association “very nicely” asked him to be the honoree at this year’s dinner, a tradition dating back to 1924 under President Calvin Coolidge. Trump stated his intention to “work to make it the GREATEST, HOTTEST, and MOST SPECTACULAR DINNER, OF ANY KIND, EVER!” in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday.
Reactions to Trump’s Decision
Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association and CBS News’ senior White House correspondent, expressed the association’s pleasure at Trump’s acceptance of the invitation. She highlighted the dinner’s tradition of celebrating the First Amendment and providing scholarships. “We’re happy the president has accepted our invitation and seem forward to hosting him,” Jiang said. PBS, CNN, and USA Today all reported on the announcement.
About the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner, often called “nerd prom,” raises funds to support the White House Correspondents’ Association’s First Amendment scholarships and programs. The event typically draws a large number of prominent figures from the media and political spheres. Mentalist Oz Pearlman is scheduled to be this year’s headliner. USA Today
Context of the Announcement
The announcement of Trump’s attendance comes shortly after the launch of Operation Epic Fury, which has faced a lack of public support according to recent polling data. His job approval ratings remain low during his second term. USA Today