Trump attacks media and jokes about 2028 run at rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner

US President Donald Trump used a rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington to attack journalists and Democratic opponents, while also joking about a possible third presidential term in 2028. The event took place at the Waldorf Astoria hotel three months after an apparent assassination attempt disrupted the original dinner in April. Trump's remarks were delivered in front of reporters and media figures gathered for the annual gala.

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According to the supplied report, Trump began with a more conciliatory tone as he referred to the attack that had forced him to leave the dinner in April. He then shifted into a wide-ranging speech that targeted what he called the "fake news media" and described the room as a large gathering of people with "Trump derangement syndrome". He also laughed and shook hands with a Wall Street Journal team before later turning his criticism toward journalists and political opponents.

The president also revived discussion of a third term, which is barred under the US Constitution, while saying he was joking. He said, "Just like my presidency, the second time is always better. And the third time is better yet," before adding, "I'm only kidding." He then pulled out a red "Trump 2028" cap and said he was pleased to announce an intention to run for a fourth term, a remark presented in the report as part of the same joking exchange.

The speech matters because it brought together several recurring themes in Trump's political style: confrontation with the press, direct engagement with reporters, and repeated references to the limits of presidential power. The dinner itself is a high-profile Washington event that often places the president, journalists and political figures in the same room, making the tone of the remarks closely watched. In this case, the setting also carried added significance because it followed the earlier disruption caused by the apparent assassination attempt.

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The report says Trump also highlighted the access he has given journalists through frequent question-and-answer sessions and by personally taking phone calls from many of them. That point contrasted with his criticism of the media, suggesting he was trying to frame his relationship with reporters as both combative and unusually open. The event also came after journalists received awards for reporting on his second presidency, adding another layer to the tension in the room.

What remains unclear from the supplied material is whether Trump's comments were intended purely as humour or also as a political signal to supporters. It is also not clear whether the rescheduled dinner will affect the tone of future interactions between the White House and the press corps. What can be watched next is whether the remarks draw formal reaction from constitutional scholars, political opponents or media organisations, and whether Trump continues to reference a 2028 bid in public appearances.

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