Trump takes swipes at press during White House Correspondents’ Dinner
From CBS News WHCA President Weijia Jiang said in her speech that the event will be held again next year at the Washington Hilton, the site of the April shooting. Friday’s rescheduled event was held at the Waldorf Astoria, a few miles away, following criticism that security at the Hilton was inadequate.
The outgoing WHCA president said he “will not let an act of violence have the last word,” referring to the gunman captured at the first dinner in April.
The police officer shot at the scene, U.S. Secret Service Officer Victor Gonzalez, was given an award by Trump for his actions on the night of the shooting.
“As I said three months ago, the show must go on,” Trump said.
Trump joked that he would seek a third term in office, saying, “Just like my presidency, the second time is always better and the third time will be better… I’m just kidding.”
Trump stood and shook hands with the award winners, including the Wall Street Journal staff who received the award for reporting on Trump’s ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Ahead of the event, many in the White House press corps theorized that Trump, who frequently criticizes many of the reporters sitting just feet away in the room, would lash out at the media.
Trump’s speech included pointed insults towards several journalists, some of whom were in the room. His hour-long speech also took aim at familiar targets, while the harsher tone and personal attacks extended to Democratic politicians and celebrities.
But the US president also called on Americans to respect freedom of expression.
“We resolve our differences with open and robust debate, not with bullets,” Trump said. “And no deranged loser with a gun will ever change that. We can never let that happen.”
Trump appeared to be in a good mood throughout the event, jokingly telling the media that “sometimes I really think some of you don’t like me.”
“Here [the dinner] “Indeed, the largest group of people with ‘Trump instability syndrome’ gathered at the same time,” he said. “I suspect some of you were lucky our last meal was cut short… I was going to follow you.”
The president joked that the news industry would be “broke” after he leaves office because “there won’t be anyone to report on him,” before Trump put on his 2028 hat and said he would run for another term.
“I am pleased to announce my intention to run for a fourth term as president of the United States, and this is kind of news,” Trump said, apparently hinting that he would run for a fourth term. he joked.
Since the start of his second term, Trump has repeatedly suggested he would seek a third term despite the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which imposes a two-term limit. The amendment was approved in 1951, after President Franklin D. Roosevelt served four consecutive terms. Trump campaigned for president three times and won two of the elections.
