Trump mocks media at scaled-down White House Correspondents’ Dinner

President Donald Trump addressed reporters at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., delivering jokes and criticism while honoring journalists and the officer who confronted a gunman at the venue three months earlier.

The event took place at the Washington Hilton with roughly 700 attendees, a much smaller gathering than the April dinner that was interrupted by a shooting. Security was heightened: several blocks were closed, guests were screened twice with QR codes and IDs, wristbands were issued, and uniformed officers and National Guard personnel secured the area.

Trump praised the press in parts of his remarks, saying he respected “most” journalists, but also targeted outlets he has frequently criticized and accused some in the room of suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” He emphasized that the nation resolves disputes through debate rather than violence, and said the show must go on after the earlier attack.

WHCA President Weijia Jiang of CBS News said the association would return to the Washington Hilton next year. Officer Victor Gonzalez of the U.S. Secret Service, who was shot at during the April incident, received an award from the president for his actions.

A Wall Street Journal team was among the award recipients for reporting on President Trump’s links to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump stood to shake hands with the honorees as they were recognized.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The dinner resumed at the Washington Hilton with reduced attendance and increased security following the April shooting; the president combined conciliatory remarks with criticism of the press and presented awards to journalists and the Secret Service officer involved in the earlier incident. The program reflected both an affirmation of press freedom and the administration’s contentious relationship with some media outlets.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• President Trump spoke at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., with about 700 attendees.
• The Washington Hilton hosted the scaled-down event under heightened security following an April shooting.
• Officer Victor Gonzalez of the U.S. Secret Service received an award for his actions during the earlier attack; a Wall Street Journal team was also honored.