By Cecelia Odey
U.S. President Donald Trump said that he planned to attend the annual White House correspondents’ dinner for the first time since taking office.
This is marking it a notable shift after years of boycotting the event as the president.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he would accept the invitation to the gala.
He cited the upcoming 250th anniversary of the U.S. and what he described as improved recognition from members of the press.
He has previously declined to attend, criticising media coverage of his presidency as “extraordinarily bad.”
Trump said it would be his “honour” to participate and pledged to make it the “greatest” and “most spectacular” dinner ever held.
He also referred to himself as the “G.O.A.T.,” an acronym for “Greatest of All Time,” saying some correspondents now acknowledge his achievements.
The dinner is organised by the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), which has hosted the event for more than a century.
The association represents journalists covering the White House and uses proceeds from the annual gala to fund scholarships and support press freedom initiatives.
WHCA President Weijia Jiang welcomed Trump’s decision, saying the organisation looked forward to hosting him.
Trump’s planned attendance comes amid ongoing tensions between the White House and the media.
In 2025, the administration introduced new regulations limiting journalists’ access to parts of the White House press area, including the office of press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Reporters are now required to schedule appointments to enter certain spaces that were previously accessible to accredited journalists.
The White House said the measures were necessary because the area is also used for communications by the National Security Council and may contain sensitive documents.
The WHCA criticised the move, arguing it restricts journalists’ ability to question officials and undermines transparency.
In February, the administration also announced it would assume control over selecting news outlets for the press pools covering the president, a role historically managed by the WHCA since 1914.
The annual dinner, traditionally attended by sitting presidents, celebrates freedom of the press and free speech.
This year’s event is scheduled for April 25 at the Washington Hilton. (dpa/NAN)
