Trump jokes about third term at rescheduled correspondents dinner

President Donald Trump addressed the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on July 24, three months after an armed attack forced cancellation of the original April event. Trump wore a 'Trump 2028' cap and made repeated jokes about running for a third presidential term, despite the 22nd Amendment prohibiting presidents from serving more than two terms. "Just like my presidency, the second time is always better—and the third time will be better yet," he said, adding "I'm only kidding" before later clarifying he would run in 2028.

The rescheduled dinner took place at the Waldorf Astoria hotel ballroom, a smaller venue holding about 700 people with enhanced security measures including ID checks, detection dogs, and armed officers. The event featured awards recognizing journalists who had covered Trump's administration, including a New York Times reporter whom Trump's Justice Department had previously subpoenaed over Air Force One coverage. Trump acknowledged he had prepared sharper remarks for the original April dinner but delivered a lighter speech, though his address still included jabs at journalists, political figures including Jane Fonda and Bruce Springsteen, and Democratic officials.

Trump used portions of his remarks to promote the ballroom and military facility he is constructing on the White House grounds, describing bulletproof glass and a planned drone port. He also downplayed concerns about the ongoing Iran conflict affecting Republican control of Congress in midterm elections, telling reporters, "I'm not in a hurry. We have to do it right. Elections take care of themselves."

The dinner's return represented a notable moment in Trump's relationship with the press. White House Correspondents' Association president Weijia Jiang of CBS News opened the event saying "We will not be intimidated. We refuse to let an act of violence have the final word," referencing the April shooting that killed or injured multiple attendees and forced the original dinner's evacuation.