Full Breakdown
Trump’s Nicki Minaj Joke Highlights Celebrity Ties at Rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner
7/26/2026, 12:21:18 AM
Core Event: Joke About Minaj at the July 24 Dinner
On Friday, July 24, 2026, President Donald Trump addressed the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner held at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C. While recalling the April shooting that halted the original gathering, he delivered a punchline that linked the gunfire to rapper Nicki Minaj: “After hearing the gunshots, many people yelled, ‘Get down!’ which caused Nicki Minaj to start twerking.” The remark generated immediate laughter and extensive media commentary.
Background & Context: April Shooting and Event Rescheduling
The WHCA dinner scheduled for April 25, 2026, was abruptly interrupted when a gunman breached security outside the Washington Hilton ballroom, opening fire and prompting attendees to seek cover. The assailant, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, was arrested near the screening area and later charged with attempting to assassinate the president.
In response, organizers moved the make-up dinner to the Waldorf Astoria, reduced the guest list from roughly 2,600 to about 680, and implemented three security checkpoints with digital passes and an outside screening firm. The revised venue hosted approximately 700 guests, according to on-site reporting.
Timeline
- April 25, 2026 – Attempted mass-shooting at the original WHCA dinner; event cancelled.
- May 13, 2026 – Minaj tells *Time* she has supported Trump for years but feared industry backlash.
- July 24, 2026 – Rescheduled WHCA dinner; Trump delivers the Minaj joke and other remarks.
Data & Statistics
- Original attendance: ~2,600 guests.
- Rescheduled attendance: ~680–700 guests.
- Gunman: Cole Tomas Allen, 31, charged with attempted assassination and other federal offenses.
Official Statements & Responses
Separately, a coalition of former journalists and press-freedom groups sent a letter to the WHCA urging the association to call out the administration’s recent subpoenas of *New York Times* reporters and threats to broadcast licenses, framing the dinner as an opportunity to spotlight attacks on First Amendment rights.
Criticism & Opposition
The journalists’ letter represents organized criticism of the president’s broader approach to the press.
Verbatim Quotes
- “After hearing the gunshots, many people yelled, 'Get down!' which caused Nicki Minaj to start twerking,” — Caption Hide Caption Trump, president
- “The attempted mass murder at the Washington Hilton — that’s what it could have been — was an assault on our democracy itself,” — Caption Hide Caption Trump, president
- “As I said three months ago, the show must go on,” — Caption Hide Caption Trump, president
- “We also have a woman that is so respected and so hot and so great and such a great friend of, I don’t say conservative, I say of common sense,” — Caption Hide Caption Trump, president
