President Donald J. Trump announced that he will attend this year’s annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner, suggesting an improved relationship with the national media.
In a Monday evening post to Truth Social, the president said that he has decided to accept the organization’s invitation, ending his boycott of the event, which customarily gives the so-called “watchdogs of democracy” the opportunity to suck up to power and mingle with the Beltway elite.
Citing the event’s long history and the nation’s 250th birthday, Trump seemed willing to let bygones be bygones with the WHCA and, barring a change of heart, will attend the soiree for the first time as president.
🚨President Trump to attend @whca annual dinner for his first time as president
Looking forward to celebrating the First Amendment, the work of the White House press corps, and America’s 250th birthday with @POTUS & staff! pic.twitter.com/AueGcnmM3Q
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) March 2, 2026
“The White House Correspondents Association has asked me, very nicely, to be the Honoree at this year’s Dinner, a long and storied tradition since it began in 1924, under then President Calvin Coolidge. In honor of our Nation’s 250th Birthday, and the fact that these ‘Correspondents’ now admit that I am truly one of the Greatest Presidents in the History of our Country, the G.O.A.T., according to many, it will be my Honor to accept their invitation, and work to make it the GREATEST, HOTTEST, and MOST SPECTACULAR DINNER, OF ANY KIND, EVER!” Trump wrote.
“Because the Press was extraordinarily bad to me, FAKE NEWS ALL, right from the beginning of my First Term, I boycotted the event, and never went as Honoree. However, I look forward to being with everyone this year. Hopefully, it will be something very Special,” he added.
The last time that Trump attended the event was in 2015, the year before he was first elected as president.
He was also in attendance in 2011 when then-President Barack Obama savagely mocked the visibly uncomfortable Trump as the audience ate it up.
No WHCA Dinner this year.
Instead: #THISDATE in WHCA Dinner History.
Today’s installment: April 30, 2011.
Barack Obama: “Donald Trump is here tonight.” pic.twitter.com/pobeJywpNH
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) April 30, 2021
Obama ridiculed the idea of a future Trump White House in remarks that would later come back to haunt him after Trump was twice elected and went about dismantling his precious legacy, including the Iran nuclear deal.
WHCA President Weijia Jiang welcomed Trump’s announcement.
Statement on President Trump’s Decision to Attend WHCA Dinner pic.twitter.com/aArNs1RuNo
— WHCA (@whca) March 2, 2026
“For more than 100 years, the journalists of the White House Correspondents’ Association have enjoyed an evening with the president, a dinner that celebrates the First Amendment while supporting the work we do, including awards honoring excellent journalism and scholarships to help the next generation of reporters who someday will be the ones asking the questions at the White House. We’re happy the president has accepted our invitation and look forward to hosting him,” she said in a statement.
This year’s WHCA dinner is scheduled to be held on April 25 at the Washington Hilton.
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