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Trump Makes First Sitting-President Appearance at WH Dinner

4/25/2026

24 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton, marking his first appearance as a sitting president.
CBS’s “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert announced he will skip the dinner on Saturday.
Mentalist Oz Pearlman will entertain the evening.
White House Correspondents’ Association president Weijia Jiang said the dinner underscores the First Amendment.

History

Historical Context

Since its 1921 launch, the White House Correspondents' Dinner has drawn presidents—starting with Calvin Coolidge in 1924—and media figures. In 1962, John F. Kennedy attended, prompting the removal of the women-only ban and gathering about 500 journalists and entertainers. Donald Trump’s announced 2026 appearance revives the presidential tradition. The White House Correspondents' Association uses the event to fund journalism scholarships.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton, marking his first appearance as a sitting president.
CBS’s “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert announced he will skip the dinner on Saturday.
Mentalist Oz Pearlman will entertain the evening.
White House Correspondents’ Association president Weijia Jiang said the dinner underscores the First Amendment.

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