President Donald Trump scrapped his combative prepared speech and delivered a unity-themed address Friday at the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner — but still managed to land familiar jabs at Democrats, the press, and even his own Cabinet members.
The president returned to the stage just months after gunfire abruptly ended the organization’s annual banquet in April. An armed suspect, Cole Allen, stormed the event in what authorities say was an attempt to assassinate Trump.
“The speech that I had ready just a short while. Oh, that was going to be a doozy. I was so psyched. I was going to rip people. And I don’t know, just something changed it — really for the better. But I just wouldn’t want to do that,” Trump told the room full of journalists and government officials.
“But we’ll do a little ripping, if you don’t mind. But it is true. I said, how do we handle this is going to be a different kind of evening. And it is. And in many ways it’s a more beautiful evening, actually.”
Trump delivered a speech that ran longer than expected — one hour and four minutes — opening with his typical walk-out song, Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.,” and immediately joking about seeking a third term.
“Just like my presidency, the second time is always better. It’s always better, and the third time will be better yet. I’m only kidding,” Trump said to chuckles throughout the room.
The president thanked the Secret Service for its work protecting him during the April attack and every day since.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became an early target of Trump’s humor.
“I hope that everyone finally got to enjoy their entire very delicious beef tenderloins, very special beef. And I want you all to know that Bobby Kennedy, who’s right here personally, ran over the cow and his car,” Trump joked.
Trump took aim at Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a possible 2028 presidential candidate, with a pointed routine about weight.
“You can’t have somebody like a J.B. Pritzker who I understand is not president, sadly. But, you know, some people say never used a fat word. And I know I would never call anybody fat,” Trump said.
“I have my own problems, you know, it’s not like I’m perfect, sir. In the back. Don’t call him a fat pig, okay? That’s. I’m sticking up for him. Don’t call him you. You can’t do that, sir. You can’t call J.B. Pritzker a fat pig.”
The president mocked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s criticism of Israel and his increasingly vocal positions on the Israel-Hamas war.
“I’m going to send him a beautiful Palestinian outfit tomorrow so he can greet Bibi Netanyahu when he comes to town next week.”
Trump also targeted California Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris, though he spent more time on congressional age and energy levels.
“The other day, a senator I knew got a text… ‘When you get home, I want to have you immediately come up the stairs and make love to me.’ And he said, ‘I can’t do both,” Trump joked, saying the senator only has enough energy for one of those activities.
He used the moment to call for term limits: “All joking aside, I do think we need term limits in Congress.”
The WHCA honored U.S. Secret Service Officer Victor Gonzales during Friday’s dinner in recognition of his actions helping stop Allen from entering the ballroom.
Allen, a computer scientist from Torrance, California, traveled from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. by Amtrak after purchasing a one-way ticket. Court filings say he sent a manifesto to family and friends shortly before the attack, describing political motivations and apologizing for his actions.
Allen has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempting to assassinate the president, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, transporting a firearm across state lines, and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon.
“The attempted mass murder at the Washington Hilton, that’s what it could have been, was an assault on our democracy itself,” Trump said.
Former WHCA president Weijia Jiang presented the award to Gonzales.
“One officer placed himself directly in harm’s way and engaged the armed suspect, even after gunfire struck his protective vest. He stayed in the fight and the attacker was stopped,” Jiang said.
During the speech, Trump highlighted his White House Ballroom project following heat for the $200 million construction.
“In light of what we went through, I think, people understand it. It’s going to be amazing, a phenomenal one of the biggest drone ports anywhere in the world,” Trump said, referencing gunfire at the first WHCA Dinner.
Trump vowed to attend next year’s WHCA dinner.
“They said, ‘Would you do it next year?’ I said, ‘I will be back next year,'” Trump said. “Now, if you get really, really nasty, maybe not. I don’t know. But we’re going to be back next year.”
In his closing remarks, Trump said he has a “scoop” for the press — announcing he is running for the fourth time.
He put on a red “TRUMP 2028” hat.
