At the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner on July 24, 2020, U.S; President Donald Trump announced his intention to run for a fourth term in 2028, according to ABC. He donned a red cap reading ‘Trump 2028’ and made several controversial remarks — this was the first time Trump had attended the annual event since taking office in 2017, according to Berliner Zeitung. The dinner had been postponed after a gunman opened fire in the hotel on April 25, 2020, according to the same source.

Controversial Remarks and Self-Irony

Trump opened his speech by stating, ‘We settle our differences not with violence, but with open and lively debate,’ according to WELT. For a few moments, it seemed the tone might be conciliatory, but that quickly changed. He criticized the press, calling them ‘fake news’ and claiming, ‘If I am gone, you are all out of business,’ according to Berliner Zeitung. He also joked, ‘Bobby Kennedy has personally run over the cow with his car,’ according to WELT, referencing a news story about the health secretary.

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is a longstanding tradition where U.S. presidents deliver speeches that often include jokes about the media and themselves. Trump, however, has historically avoided the event, according to SZ.de. This year’s event was marked by tension after a man with a gun breached security and fired a shot in the hotel. The incident led to the event being postponed for three months, according to Berliner Zeitung. The suspect later pleaded not guilty and denied responsibility through his lawyer, according to Reuters.

Plans for 2028

Trump made several references to a potential 2028 presidential run. ‘I will do it. I will make an official announcement. In fact, I already did. I won three times. Now I will do it again. It should be easy. I am getting very good at running for president,’ he said, according to ABC. This was met with a mix of laughter and silence from the audience. Trump also claimed the 2020 election was ‘rigged’ but noted, ‘We don’t have to talk about that,’ according to ABC.

Trump’s remarks were seen as both self-ironic and combative. He wore the ‘Trump 2028’ cap during the event and joked about receiving ‘three or four’ negative stories daily. He also mocked the media for ‘clickbait’ and claimed that the electoral system ‘is in very bad shape’ and needs to be ‘reinforced,’ according to ABC. Despite his critical tone, he briefly praised some journalists and shook hands with those who had won awards for reporting on his administration, according to 한국일보.

Event Context and Reactions

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which dates back more than 100 years, is a celebration of press freedom and an opportunity for journalists to receive recognition. It also raises funds for journalism fellowships, according to Berliner Zeitung. Previous presidents such as Barack Obama have used the event to make light-hearted jokes and build rapport with the press. Trump, however, used the opportunity to criticize and mock his critics.

Throughout the evening, Trump appeared aware that his remarks were not well-received. At one point, he asked, ‘Who the hell wrote this speech?’ while reading from a script, according to WELT. His speech was marked by contradictions—moments of humor, self-praise, and attacks on the media. The event ended with him returning to the Oval Office, as he noted in his speech, according to ABC.