Trump Ends Boycott, Set to Attend White House Correspondents' Dinner in Honor of America's 250th Birthday

WASHINGTON – President Trump announced on March 2 that he will attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner as the honoree, marking his first appearance at the event as president after maintaining a boycott throughout his first term and the initial year of his second term due to perceived media bias.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump explained his decision, citing the nation's upcoming 250th anniversary and a shift in media recognition of his achievements. "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," he wrote. "However, 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!"

The annual dinner, hosted by the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) since 1921 and first attended by a president in 1924 under Calvin Coolidge, is scheduled for April 25 at the Washington Hilton. It traditionally features the president delivering remarks alongside journalists and celebrities, often with lighthearted roasts, while raising funds for journalism scholarships and awards. This year's headliner is mentalist and mind-reader Oz Pearlman, announced by the WHCA last week.

Trump attended the dinner multiple times before his presidency, including during Barack Obama's administration in 2011, when he was famously roasted by Obama and comedian Seth Meyers amid speculation about his political ambitions. As president from 2017 to 2021, he skipped the events, instead holding rallies in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and citing unfair press coverage. In 2018, comedian Michelle Wolf's sharp critiques of administration officials drew controversy, further straining relations. Trump also boycotted the 2025 dinner in his second term, continuing his stance against what he termed "fake news."

WHCA President Weijia Jiang, a CBS News senior White House correspondent, welcomed the announcement in a statement: "For more than 100 years, the journalists of the White House Correspondents’ Association have enjoyed an evening with the president. We’re happy the president has accepted our invitation and look forward to hosting him." The event supports scholarships for aspiring journalists and honors excellence in reporting.

The decision comes amid Trump's ongoing criticisms of the media, yet signals a potential moment for dialogue in a divided landscape. With the U.S. commemorating its semiquincentennial in 2026, the dinner could highlight national unity while allowing Trump to address press relations directly. As preparations proceed, the gathering underscores the enduring role of a free press in American democracy, even as debates over media accountability persist.