Trump to Break Absence With First White House Correspondents’ Dinner Appearance as President

This year, President Donald Trump will attend for the first time as president, the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner and it is a significant break from the past when he did not attend this prominent Washington event.

The annual event is viewed as a gathering of the political elite and media establishment in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the year in review  including a combination of humor, pageantry and reversal of roles which is traditionally called the annual dinner.

 Because of Trump's contentious relationship with major media outlets, there is an enormous amount of publicity surrounding his upcoming appearance.

Historically, the dinner serves as an opportunity for the president to display wit and engage in a friendly manner with the press corps. This year, because of President Trump's participation, there will be even greater political drama around one of the most hyped annual events in Washington.

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President Trump says he will attend the White House correspondents' dinner for the first time while in office, having skipped the event each year during his first term and the first one in his second term. https://t.co/BfGGQN3gte

— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 3, 2026

When is White House Correspondents’ Dinner?

On April 25, 2026, the annual White House Correspondents Dinner will be held at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. President Trump has confirmed he will attend the event for the first time since being elected.

In addition to journalists from various media outlets, politicians and other public figures, this event gathers people from all walks of life together for a night focused on giving out awards, listening to speeches and having fun.

Instead of comedian entertainers like those in previous years, this dinner will feature illusionist Oz Pearlman as the headlining act.

Why Did Trump Boycott the White House Correspondents’ Dinner for Years?

Continuing an ongoing pattern, President Donald Trump did not attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner during his four-year term (2017-2019).

 He cited a perceived hostility exhibited towards him by parts of the national news media and often referred to those outlets as “fake news.”

The dinner is hosted by the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) and generally provides a fun, relaxed evening of entertainment, including satirical skits, speeches from prominent individuals in attendance, and recognizing journalists on their achievements.He has also consistently stated that, in his opinion, most of the traditional media treated him unfairly.

On the nights he didn’t attend the dinner, he normally held campaign style rallies, with Trump framing his absence as a protest to what he has called unfair, biased coverage of his presidency by the press. 

His refusal to attend was one manifestation of the elevated tension between the White House and the press during the Trump presidency.