Trump Says He’ll Attend White House Correspondents Dinner for First Time as President

Hollywood Reporter

by Hilary Lewis

March 2, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Donald Trump has announced that he will attend the upcoming White House Correspondents Dinner (WHCD) for the first time as president, marking a significant shift in his participation in this storied event. Known for boycotting the dinner during his first term and last year, Trump cited "extraordinarily bad" press coverage and what he called "FAKE NEWS" as his reasons for avoiding it previously. However, he now claims that correspondents have come to acknowledge his status as one of the greatest presidents in U.S. history, even referring to himself as the "G.O.A.T." (Greatest Of All Time). Trump’s decision to attend is seen as a move to honor the event’s 250th anniversary and to elevate it into what he describes as "the GREATEST, HOTTEST, and MOST SPECTACULAR DINNER, OF ANY KIND, EVER." The White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) invited Trump to be the honoree for this year’s dinner, which has been held annually since 1924. This year’s event is particularly notable because it features mentalist Oz Pearlman as the entertainer, marking a departure from the tradition of selecting comedians who often roast the president during their routines. Last year, the WHCA had initially chosen comedian Amber Ruffin but canceled her appearance due to White House criticism. Trump’s attendance is further significant given his history with the event: he skipped it entirely during his first term and last year, despite attending multiple times before becoming president, including a memorable 2011 dinner where then-President Barack Obama and comedian Seth Meyers humorously targeted him. For entertainment enthusiasts, this announcement carries weight due to Trump’s high profile and the

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Originally published on Hollywood Reporter on 3/2/2026