The American president makes lazy jokes during an appearance in Washington and bores the audience.
July 25, 2026, 07:19July 25, 2026, 07:19
Trump insulted well-known Washington media figures.Image: keystone
Uncomfortable moments at a journalists’ gala in Washington: Guest of honor Donald Trump used his lengthy speech at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Friday to lambast his alleged opponents in the media.
The 80-year-old described CNN presenter Kaitlan Collins as a liar who tells “made up stories”. She was attractive, he said of the 34-year-old, but she never laughed. He then compared Collins to the trans woman Dylan Mulvaney, who caused controversy in right-wing America in 2023 in connection with a proposed advertising campaign for the beer brand Bud Light.
And so it went on and on. Trump insulted well-known Washington media figures such as Jake Tapper (CNN) and Jacqui Heinrich (Fox News). He also mocked leading Democrats: JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois, he called a “fat pig” and Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, as stupid.
That was probably meant to be funny, because it is customary for the guest speaker at the journalists’ gala to make crude jokes about the political establishment, the media and himself. Even in previous years, not everyone present always wanted to laugh about it. But there was no reaction in the large ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, where the journalists’ gala took place. Most of the time, only the cabinet members present laughed during Trump’s speech. They probably had no other choice.
“It was an interesting evening,” said the president towards the end of his speech, which lasted more than 60 minutes, after putting on a red hat with the election slogan “Trump 2028”. «I didn’t know what was waiting for me. And it’s a lot worse than I thought.”
Trump congratulates the journalists he sued
The journalist gala was actually supposed to take place on April 25th. Shortly after the start of the first edition, an assassin tried to storm the Secret Service security gate and gain access to the ballroom in the Washington Hilton. The man was subdued by the Secret Service; he faces a long prison sentence.
The White House Correspondents’ Association announced, in consultation with the President, that it would repeat the event. However, due to the stricter security regulations, the gala had to move to another hotel. Instead of 2,600 guests, only 700 people could take part. However, there were no incidents in the new restaurant.
Before Trump took the floor, organizers handed out a slew of awards for media professionals who work in the White House. Journalists from the Wall Street Journal received an award for their articles that revolved around the former friendship between him and the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump has sued the newspaper and is demanding $10 billion in damages. On Friday, however, he congratulated the journalists and shook the hands of the media workers. He had previously gestured resignedly when the price was announced and said: “I don’t know.” That was pretty funny after all. (schweiztoday.ch)