Media Await Trump’s First-Ever Appearance as President at Correspondents’ Dinner

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump will headline the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25 for the first time as president.

The black-tie gala brings together thousands of media personalities, business leaders, celebrities, lawmakers, and Cabinet officials to celebrate journalism and those that cover the executive branch while raising money for scholarships.

“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,” Trump wrote in a March 2 Truth Social post.

“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!”

He avoided the event during his first term and did not appear last year.

“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,” Trump wrote. “However, I look forward to being with everyone this year. Hopefully, it will be something very Special.”

Every president since Calvin Coolidge has made an appearance. Gerald Ford pretended to trip at the dinner in 1975, poking fun at himself. Comedy took center stage during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, with comedians and presidents delivering humorous remarks in most years.

Stephen Colbert roasted George W. Bush in 2006; Barack Obama delivered stand-up style sets in successive years, including when he targeted Donald Trump in 2011; and Michelle Wolf raised eyebrows in 2018 with her no-holds-barred bit.

Emmy Award winner and New York Times bestselling author Oz Pearlman, who bills himself as a mentalist, will entertain the audience after Trump departs on Friday. He is known for tricks where he claims to identify information from individuals based on subtle clues.

“I am thrilled to be the featured entertainer at this year’s [correspondents’] dinner and join the ranks of Frank Sinatra, Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien, among many other legends,” Pearlman said in a statement. “This is a rare opportunity to gather so many accomplished, perceptive people in one place and invite them to share moments of wonder, surprise and awe.”

Association President Weijia Jiang will address the audience before Trump is introduced.

“As the world’s most celebrated mentalist, Oz Pearlman will offer a fascinating glimpse into what’s truly on the minds of Washington’s newsmakers,” said Jiang. “We look forward to an exciting, fresh, and interactive evening as we celebrate the First Amendment and Washington news coverage together.”

Attendees will arrive on the red carpet beginning at 5 p.m. ET, with the president’s speech scheduled for approximately 8 p.m. ET.

The Correspondents’ Association was founded in 1914 to secure freedom of the press and protect access to the White House, with the first dinner taking place in 1921. The first time a president attended was 1924.