Donald Trump was swiftly evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday evening after gunshots were heard inside the Washington Hilton.
A shooter has been confirmed as dead, and the president was not injured.
After shots rang out, Trump was ushered away from the dais by Secret Service agents, and a number of other Cabinet officials were also removed from the ballroom.
Attendees still inside took cover underneath tables. One woman cried and described the incident as the “scariest thing” she’d ever experienced. Senator John Fetterman was seen assisting another woman, while a Secret Service agent was seen carrying a military rifle.
The program is expected to resume shortly, and the president is still inside the hotel, according to The New York Times.
The Hilton, located a short distance away from the White House, is where President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. Trump has been subject to several assassination attempts.
More updates to follow…
Read MoreWhy is Trump coming to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner? Because he needs us
A history of the White House correspondents’ dinner: From cringeworthy jokes to presidential fury
Journalists urge White House reporters to band together and confront Trump at Correspondents’ dinner
Key Points
- Trump's dramatic return to the White House Correspondents' Dinner
- ICYMI: Why is Trump coming to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner?
- Trump administration is out in full force at the Hilton. Here's who's arrived
- Protestors escorted away after storming the red carpet
- The journalists boycotting the White House Correspondents' Dinner
Trump is still inside the Hilton: report
02:11 , Brendan RasciusThe president is still inside the Washington Hilton, according to a report from the press pool.
It’s not clear if he will participate in the program after it resumes.
Attendees scrambled to take cover after gunman opens fire: ‘Scariest thing’
02:05 , Brendan RasciusAfter gunshots rang out inside the Washington Hilton, attendees scrambled to hide underneath tables in the ballroom.
One woman was crying. She said it was the “scariest thing” she’d ever experienced.
Senator John Fetterman was seen assisting another woman as she got up from underneath a table.
Elsewhere, a Secret Service agent was seen carrying a military rifle. Some tables and chairs were flipped over.
The shooter has been confirmed as dead, and the program is expected to continue shortly.
The event will 'resume shortly'
01:59 , Brendan RasciusAttendees cheered after an announcement was made that the program will “resume shortly.”
Trump and Vance were not injured: report
01:56 , Brendan RasciusNeither the president nor the vice president were injured, according to The Associated Press.
Secret Service agents quickly responded after shots rang out, leaping onto the dais and escorting the president away from the scene.
Shooter is confirmed as dead: report
01:52 , Brendan RasciusA shooter has been confirmed as dead, according to CNN.
In addition to Trump, Cabinet officials were swiftly evacuated from the ballroom.
Hundreds of attendees are now standing around in shock.
Trump is evacuated after gunshots were heard
01:42 , Brendan RasciusPresident Donald Trump was evacuated from the ballroom after gunshots were heard. Attendees crouched under tables and the room was sealed.
Photos: Trump takes the stage ahead of his speech
01:29 , Brendan RasciusPresident Donald Trump is seated at the dais alongside First Lady Melania Trump and Weijia Jiang, a CBS News’ correspondent and president of the White House Correspondent’s Association.
President Trump has arrived
01:22 , Brendan RasciusPresident Donald Trump has arrived alongside First Lady Melania Trump. Vice President JD Vance is also seated on the dais.
Tulsi Gabbard and Erika Kirk are seated at the same table
01:07 , Brendan Rascius
Trump has a special entrance at the Washington Hilton
01:03 , Brendan RasciusIt’s worth noting that the Washington Hilton has a special VIP entrance used by presidents.
The private corridor, approved by the Secret Service, was constructed after Ronald Reagan was shot outside the hotel in 1981.
In photos: more guests trickle in before the dinner begins
Sunday 26 April 2026 00:57 , Brendan Rascius
Trump administration is out in full force at the Hilton. Here's who's arrived
Sunday 26 April 2026 00:50 , Brendan RasciusThe top brass of the Trump administration is out in full force tonight at the Washington Hilton. Here is a list of who has arrived so far:
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- FBI Director Kash Patel
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
- HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz
- Education Secretary Linda McMahon
- White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller
- U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeannine Pirro
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche
Insult comic repeatedly asks Hegseth: 'Where are we pregaming?'
Sunday 26 April 2026 00:43 , Brendan RasciusComedian Robert Smigel, carrying a puppet known as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, repeatedly asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: “Where are we pregaming?”
The defense secretary didn’t respond.
Attendee wears pin appearing to protest Paramount's purchase of Warner Bros
Sunday 26 April 2026 00:40 , Brendan RasciusNorm Eisen, an attorney and CNN legal analyst, was spotted on the red carpet holding a small pin which read “#Block the merger.”
It appeared to be a reference to Paramount Skydance’s bid to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns CNN.
Earlier this week, Paramount executives hosted Trump and other senior administration officials for a dinner, as the corporation awaits federal approval for its acquisition.
Karoline Leavitt says Trump will be 'highly entertaining,' adding he 'of course' believes in the free press
Sunday 26 April 2026 00:35 , Brendan RasciusA beaming Karoline Leavitt joined CNN for a brief interview ahead of the dinner.
“[Trump will be] highly entertaining, it will be classic President Trump,” the press secretary said. “There will be some comedy throughout, there will be some jabs thrown, I think it's appropriate for a night like this, it's the 250th anniversary of our country…He's definitely the most accessible president we've ever had."
Leavitt said Trump “of course” believes that the free press is an important part of the country.
“It's going to be great, it's going to be fun, we're happy to be here,” she concluded.
Protestors escorted away after storming the red carpet
Sunday 26 April 2026 00:31 , Brendan RasciusProtesters calling for the arrest of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were forcibly removed from the red carpet.
Two demonstrators disrupted the scene at the Washington Hilton, stepping in front of photographers — one wearing a Hegseth mask and handcuffs, the other holding a sign demanding his arrest.
They shouted that Hegseth should be locked up for war crimes before security escorted them away.
The men appeared to be affiliated with Code Pink, an anti-war activist group.
Dozens more demonstrators were spotted outside as guests in gowns and tuxedos streamed in. Many held signs opposing the Iran war.
More Trump administration officials are making their way inside
Sunday 26 April 2026 00:12 , Brendan RasciusMore Trump administration officials are streaming into the building.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were spotted milling about outside the ballroom.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeannine Pirro and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche also walked in.
Protestors assemble outside, holding signs opposing Iran war
Sunday 26 April 2026 00:08 , Brendan RasciusAs guests in glittering gowns and black tuxedos arrived at the Washington Hilton, they walked past rows of protesters, many clutching signs denouncing U.S. actions in the Middle East.
“No war for Israel,” one sign declared, while another read, “Media lies, Gaza dies.” A third demonstrator wore a mask of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and led another protester, masked as President Donald Trump, on a leash.
Another individual appeared in a mask of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, dressed in a mock prison uniform emblazoned with the words “Secretary of war crimes.”
.jpeg)
Trump appearance at White House correspondents’ dinner reignites a long-running debate
Sunday 26 April 2026 00:00 , Josh MarcusDonald Trump is set to make his inaugural appearance as president at Saturday's annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, an event poised to cast a stark public light on his administration's often-strained relationship with the media.
His presence at the gathering, hosted by the very journalists who cover his administration, will be under intense scrutiny. Historically, presidents attending this dinner have used the platform to champion free speech and the First Amendment, often interspersing their remarks with good-natured jabs at individual reporters.
Notably, the Republican president bypassed the event throughout his first term and the initial year of his second. His previous appearances include a guest appearance in 2011, where he was the subject of jokes by then-President Barack Obama, and another as a private citizen in 2015.
Trump’s planned appearance is rekindling a longer-running debate about the dinner and events like it — in particular, whether it is poor form for journalists to be seen socializing with the people they cover. The New York Times, for example, stopped attending the dinner more than a decade ago for that reason.
Trump’s appearance at White House press dinner reignites debate over press relations
Guest shows off 'all eyes on Iran' message on the red carpet
Saturday 25 April 2026 23:58 , Brendan RasciusAt least one of the guests came with a message.
Helmet to Heels founder Suzanne Kianpour had the words “all eyes on Iran" written on her hands as she posed on the red carpet ahead of tonight’s dinner.
Currently, hostilities are frozen amid a fragile ceasefire as the Trump administration seeks to negotiate with Iranian officials.
Trump rants over claims his administration gave secret no-bid contract to his favorite building company at inflated price
Saturday 25 April 2026 23:53 , Brendan RasciusJust hours before tonight’s dinner, President Trump ranted about a new report, which claimed the federal government quietly awarded a no-bid contract — with a massively inflated price tag — to one of Trump’s favorite construction firms.
The contract was to fix a pair of decades-old fountains in Lafayette Park, located across from the White House, which have sat idle for more than 10 years due to deteriorating equipment.
In 2022, the Biden administration reportedly estimated the work would cost $3.3 million. But, in January, the Trump administration agreed to pay more than five times that figure — $17.4 million — to Clark Construction, a Maryland-based firm that is also building the massive White House ballroom, according to The New York Times.
Read the full story...
Trump rants over claims his administration gave no-bid contract to construction firm
Several top-level Trump officials have arrived at the Washington Hilton
Saturday 25 April 2026 23:50 , Brendan RasciusA string of top‑ranking Trump administration officials have arrived at the Washington Hilton for tonight’s high‑profile dinner. Several were seen chatting with guests and taking questions from reporters on the sidelines.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is going on maternity leave later this month, arrived with her husband, a real‑estate developer. The couple paused for photos before heading inside.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and his wife, podcaster Katie Miller, also smiled for the cameras as they entered the ballroom.
Among the other notable guests seen arriving at the glitzy event were Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Mehmet Oz, the administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
'Come home': Trump texts reporter who traveled all the way to Pakistan for Iran negotiations
Saturday 25 April 2026 23:30 , Josh MarcusWe know one reporter who won’t make it back to Washington in time for the Correspondents’ Dinner.
The president reportedly texted New York Post foreign policy correspondent Caitlin Doornbos today to leave Islamabad, Pakistan, after the president called off a U.S. delegation heading to the country for negotiations surrounding the Iran war.
Doornbos shared a screenshot on X of a text from Trump which read, “Come home!!!”
Trump cancels US negotiators’ trip to Pakistan for Iran talks
Anti-war protesters will greet Trump in Washington at Correspondents' Dinner
Saturday 25 April 2026 23:15 , Josh Marcus
President Trump is heading into Washington now, ahead of this evening’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
When he arrives at the Washington Hilton, he’ll be met with anti-war protesters outside.
A smattering of protesters could be seen outside the hotel on Saturday afternoon, holding signs with slogans including “No War For Israel” and “Media Lies, Gaza Dies.”
Will Trump give a shout-out to the Ellisons in Correspondents' Dinner speech?
Saturday 25 April 2026 22:59 , Josh Marcus
One of the biggest storylines heading into tonight’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner is the ongoing courtship between the Ellison family and the Trump administration.
Larry Ellison, a Republican donor and co-founder of the tech giant Oracle, and his son David, CEO of Paramount Skydance, have become two of the most influential media tycoons of the second Trump term.
The younger Ellison reportedly hosted Trump and senior administration officials this week in Washington for a private dinner, at the same time as Paramount Skydance seeks regulatory approval for its bid to take over Warner Bros. Discovery.
Under Ellison’s leadership, the conglomerate has reshaped key properties like CBS News to be more conservative, according to press observers, installing anti-woke commentator Bari Weiss as the outlet’s editor-in-chief.
Earlier this year, Oracle joined a group of investors to take over majority control of TikTok’s U.S. operations, after the White House pressured the social network to spin off its American division or face a ban because of national security concerns .
Administration figures have spoken openly about their approval of the Ellisons’ influence on U.S. media.
“The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last month of CNN, a Warner Bros. Discovery holding.
Mary Trump slams Correspondents' Dinner for inviting 'fascist' president
Saturday 25 April 2026 22:40 , Josh MarcusThe White House Correspondents’ Association made a major error by inviting President Donald Trump to this evening’s annual press dinner, according to his niece.
“By inviting Donald to the White House Correspondents' Dinner, the WHCA is making common cause with the fascist who threatens the lives and livelihoods of journalists and is out to destroy the fourth estate,” Mary Trump, a regular critic of the president, wrote on X on Saturday. “Well done.”
Guests begin arriving for the White House Correspondents' Dinner
Saturday 25 April 2026 22:25 , Josh MarcusBring on the Trump and tuxedos.
Guests are streaming into the Washington, D.C., Hilton hotel for tonight’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
You can watch all the action live on our YouTube channel.
Trump attacks 'failing' New York Times on eve of Correspondents' Dinner
Saturday 25 April 2026 22:05 , Josh Marcus
President Donald Trump is attacking The New York Times over a recent article, even as he prepares to toast (or maybe roast) the press at this evening’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Trump claimed the paper was attempting to “grossly mischaracterize” recent government efforts to restore Lafayette Park, which sits across from the White House.
The outlet reported that the Trump administration gave an unusually lucrative no-bid contract to spruce up the park to a Maryland construction firm, bucking the usual procedure for government projects, which typically solicit multiple bids before spending taxpayer funds.
“I made a multimillion contribution to the effort, and got others to do the same, but was not in charge of handing out the contract,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “That was done by the National Parks Service, and they gave it to the largest and most respected Construction Firm, for many years, in D.C., Clark Construction — A greatly respected firm, by far, the biggest in D.C.”
The administration previously told the paper the awarding of the contract was done in an “above board” manner.
The journalists boycotting the White House Correspondents' Dinner
Saturday 25 April 2026 21:50 , Josh Marcus
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner has always had its critics in journalism circles — some take issue with the chummy socializing between reporters and government officials they spend their days covering — but President Trump’s return to the dinner this year has provoked a different level of controversy.
Journalists across the industry have vowed to boycott the event or use their attendance to protest what they see as the president’s attacks on the press.
“The collective weight of the administration’s actions — retaliatory access bans, coercive regulatory investigations, frivolous lawsuits against the press, defunding of public broadcasting, dismantling of international broadcasting, physical restrictions on journalists, personal verbal attacks on reporters, assaults on the media in official White House press releases and social media posts, the arrests of journalists, and the pardoning of those who committed violence against the press — represent the most systematic and comprehensive assault on freedom of the press by a sitting American president,” a group of prominent media figures wrote in a letter to the White House Correspondents’ Association, calling on attendees to “speak forcefully” in defense of the press while Trump was in the building.
Others say they’re skipping the event entirely.
“We will not join our media colleagues in partying with Donald Trump, an authoritarian who seeks to curtail the First Amendment and criminalize journalism, who puts masked agents on the street to racially profile and kidnap people and kill people, who jails foreign students for their pro-Palestine speech, who seeks to denaturalize US citizens, who has made it US policy to summarily execute people at sea, who is massacring children and threatening the global economy with his disastrous war in Iran,” the progressive outlet Zeteo wrote in a Saturday note. “There is no reason to don a tuxedo and celebrate this racist wannabe tyrant. There is nothing to be gained by showing up to the dinner with the hopes of offering any small act of protest.”
Journalist David Shuster took a similar tack.
“With the White House Correspondents Association declaring Donald Trump an ‘honoree’ at tonight’s dinner, I declined an organization’s invitation to attend,” he wrote on X. “The sane washing of Trump and his war on the press is dangerous. And the [White House Correspondents’ Association] is an absolute disgrace.”
A new chapter in Trump's battle with the media
Saturday 25 April 2026 21:29 , Josh MarcusPresident Trump’s appearance at today’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner comes at a low ebb in his already-fraught relationship with the press.
FBI Director Kash Patel is currently suing The Atlantic for defamation over a bombshell profile into his time leading the bureau.
Earlier this month, President Trump threatened to jail an unnamed reporter after details about the rescue of a downed U.S. pilot in the Iran war made it into the press.
“We’re going to go to the media company that released it,” Trump said during a press conference, “and we’re going to say, ‘National security — give it up or go to jail.’ And we know who, and you know who, we’re talking about.”
The president, who helped mainstream the idea that journalists are the “fake news,” has attacked the press throughout his time in office.
Last year, he filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the owners of The Wall Street Journal after the paper published details about a lewd letter Trump allegedly sent the sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein. (The suit was dismissed this month.)
The administration has also tried to block outlets from covering the government, including by attempting to bar the Associated Press from regular pool coverage because it refused to use the term “Gulf of America,” the president’s new name for the Gulf of Mexico. The Defense Department has also moved to limit reporters’ access to the Pentagon.
Hegseth goes biblical on Pentagon reporters over Iran war coverage
Press will be 'absolutely in love' with Trump after WHCD
Saturday 25 April 2026 20:41 , Josh Marcus
Donald Trump will finally charm the media during his speech at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, according to his daughter-in-law, despite years of Trump bashing the press.
“He has been preparing to go into this snake pit of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner his entire life,” Lara Trump told Fox & Friends on Saturday. “He’s gonna have jokes. He’s one of the funniest people I've ever met. If they don't leave there absolutely in love with Donald Trump, I will be shocked. They’ve been trying not to love him for so long.”
Trump previously told The Hill that her father-in-law has been working with some “great people” to craft his WHCD routine, a speech which has typically involved a mix of presidential stumping and light roasting of members of the press.
Trump, of course, has a far more fraught relationship with the media than most presidents.
He’s demonized mainstream journalists for years as the “fake news,” and he’s sued major outlets for critical coverage throughout his career.
Is the Correspondents' Dinner a 'bad look'?
Saturday 25 April 2026 20:15 , Josh Marcus
Each year, the White House Correspondents’ Dinner revives the debate: Is it an ethical red flag for journalists and policymakers to celebrate together?
Some outlets argue that the dinner is an important one for the media and elected leaders alike, highlighting a shared respect for each other and the First Amendment. Hosts at the dinner have regularly pointed out that in many other nations, top entertainers and journalists would not be able to comedically roast their sitting leader.
Others, however, take issue with the appearance of top journalists hobnobbing with the political officials they are supposed to be covering impartially. The New York Times is among the outlets whose reporters do not attend the event.
“What was once (a fairly long time ago) a well-intended night of fundraising and camaraderie among professional adversaries is now simply a bad look,” Kelly McBride, an ethics expert at the Poynter Institute journalism think tank, wrote in a recent piece.
Newsom likely to skip WHCD as host makes Trump joke: report
Saturday 25 April 2026 19:55 , Josh Marcus
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Donald Trump’s frequent liberal foil, will not likely be in the crowd at this evening’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
“I don't think so,” he told Vanity Fair on Friday, at a pre-WHCD event thrown by the magazine.
Newsom, seen as a likely 2028 presidential hopeful, was reportedly mobbed with glad-handers and barely made it into the event.
Elsewhere at the party, WHCD host Oz Pearlman reportedly made a joke about Donald Trump, the kind of crack that would normally happen at the dinner, back when comedians were still hosting.
A guest reportedly asked Pearlman whether Trump had the stamina to speak for an hour at the dinner.
“Unfortunately,” he said.
Catch up: A history of the White House correspondents’ dinner, from cringeworthy jokes to presidential fury
Saturday 25 April 2026 19:33 , Josh MarcusThe White House Correspondents' Dinner, an annual fixture in Washington’s social calendar since its inception shortly after the First World War, has evolved into a unique spectacle. It now serves as a red-carpet event for the capital’s journalistic elite, political staffers, and a diverse array of US business leaders and celebrities, all gathered to witness the US president and a comedian deliver their respective roasts.
While some years fade into obscurity, others produce indelible moments – whether humorous, cringeworthy, or undeniably tense – that resonate across social media and endure in public memory. As Donald Trump prepared for his first attendance as president, a look back at some of these defining moments offers insight into the dinner's complex history.
A history of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner: From cringeworthy jokes to fury
Trump starts his day with Iran update and Senate demands
Saturday 25 April 2026 19:04 , Josh MarcusPresident Trump hasn’t yet sounded off today about the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, but he’s still been plenty busy so far.
Most notably, the president said he called off plans to send a U.S. delegation to Pakistan for negotiations to end the Iran war.
“I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going [to] Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their ‘leadership.’ Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!”
In another post, he called on the Senate to eliminate the filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act, a Republican-backed package of new voter ID requirements.
Without these measures, Trump warned, the Republicans could face a major loss in the 2026 midterms.
“Not passing the SAVE AMERICA ACT will lead to the the worst results for a political party in the HISTORY of the United States Senate,” he wrote. “An Unrecoverable Death Wish!!! Likewise, the FILIBUSTER - TERMINATE IT NOW!!!”
Trump plans 'revenge' speech and hasty exit for WHCD: report
Saturday 25 April 2026 18:42 , Josh MarcusPresident Trump reportedly plans to slam the media in a speech at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner then swiftly leave the event.
The president’s speech will be aimed at taking “revenge” on the Washington press, a group the White House regularly calls the “fake news media,” The Daily Beast reports.
Trump will then leave the event, according to the outlet, sparing him the embarrassment of watching as The Wall Street Journal accepts an award for its coverage of how Trump allegedly sent a bawdy birthday card doodle to Jeffrey Epstein.
Last week, Joe Sommerlad had this piece on the award and the potential for an awkward Trump moment at the dinner.
Trump may have to watch Wall St Journal win award for Epstein birthday letter story
Reporters should 'walk the f*** out' if Trump attacks media in speech, Jim Acosta says
Saturday 25 April 2026 18:22 , Josh MarcusIf Donald Trump lashes out at the media in his White House Correspondents’ Dinner speech, as he very well could, journalists should simply leave the event, according to former CNN anchor Jim Acosta.
“I think if Trump starts doing that, the reporters in the room should walk the f*** out,” Acosta said during a Friday episode of his show with fellow journalist Katie Couric. “They should get up and leave.”
Acosta’s comments were in response to reports that Trump is planning a “revenge” speech for the dinner, which traditionally celebrates the work of the Washington press and champions the importance of the free press and the First Amendment.
“The media is one of the last institutions in this country that has come to the realization that you have to stand up to the bully...You have to stand up for something and stand up for our profession and stand up for the First Amendment,” Acosta said.
Some have called for reporters to boycott the dinner entirely.
One of the most important names at the Correspondents' Dinner won't be onstage
Saturday 25 April 2026 17:50 , Josh MarcusUnsurprisingly, Donald Trump’s return to the Correspondents’ Dinner is what’s grabbing the headlines.
But the reported guest list for the event contains some other notable names.
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr will be in attendance.
Carr, one of the nation’s top media regulators, previously made headlines for his role in last year’s Jimmy Kimmel saga.
The regulator threatened that the FCC would crack down on the late-night host’s show after Kimmel made comments about the Charlie Kirk shooting that angered conservatives.
Kimmel’s temporary suspension by ABC after Carr’s comment was seen by some observers as a grim sign for media freedom.
Carr, speaking to The Guardian on Saturday, confirmed he would be in attendance, though he denied prior reports that he had been invited as a guest of CBS News, which was recently taken over by the Trump-allied Ellison family.
“I think it’s important for the country that we have a news media that is trusted and respected,” Carr told the outlet. “My hope for the industry is that they find a way to turn things around.”
Rachel Dobkin looked into Carr earlier this year.
Trump FCC chair urges networks broadcast ‘patriotic, pro-America’ content
No laughing matter: Trump calls off Kushner's trip for Iran war negotiations
Saturday 25 April 2026 17:22 , Josh Marcus
The president may be in for a lighthearted evening of mind tricks and speeches at today’s Correspondents’ Dinner, but he still has plenty of serious issues on his plate, namely the Iran war.
President Trump just told Fox News he has canceled a planned trip in which his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were set to head to Pakistan for Iran war negotiations.
"I've told my people a little while ago they were getting ready to leave, and I said, 'Nope, you're not making an 18 hour flight to go there,’” he told Fox’s Aishah Hasnie. “‘We have all the cards. They can call us anytime they want, but you're not going to be making any more 18 hour flights to sit around talking about nothing'."
Ahead of WHCD, Trump schmoozes with Paramount execs seeking merger approval
Saturday 25 April 2026 16:56 , Josh MarcusAs the Washington media headed into Correspondents’ Dinner weekend, the president got the party started early.
Paramount Skydance executives reportedly hosted President Donald Trump and other top administration officials for a private dinner in the nation’s capital on Thursday — as the corporation awaits federal approval on a deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.
Trump spoke to guests for almost an hour, as business titans and federal brass mingled at mixed tables inside the U.S. Institute of Peace, The New York Times reported, citing people informed of the exclusive gathering.
Among those in attendance were: Paramount CEO David Ellison, CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
The antitrust division within Blanche’s Justice Department is set to scrutinize the proposed $111 billion purchase of Warner Bros., which would hand CNN and other outlets to Ellison — who already controls CBS News. Warner Bros. shareholders signed off on the deal earlier this week, but it won’t be finalized until the government approves.
Brendan Rascius has the details.
.jpeg?trim=7,0,392,0&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800)
Paramount hosts private dinner with Trump while awaiting approval to buy CNN: report
ICYMI: Why is Trump coming to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner?
Saturday 25 April 2026 16:41 , Josh MarcusThis is what should be the most fun weekend in Washington: the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
And of course, all eyes will be on Donald Trump, who is making his first appearance at the dinner as president of the United States. Much has been made over Trump returning for the first time since he last attended, in 2011, when President Barack Obama and host Seth Meyers ruthlessly mocked him–and possibly spurred him to run for president.
There’s also the fact that instead of a comedian, the evening will feature mentalist Oz Pearlman as emcee.
Many are shocked and chagrined that the Washington press corps would insist on dining with a guy who regularly mocks us, whose Federal Communications Commission threatens to stonewall us, and whose White House took over the press pool. And this is to say nothing of barring the Associated Press from covering the White House for refusing to go along with renaming the Gulf of Mexico to “the Gulf of America.”
Read Eric Garcia’s full story.
Why is Trump coming to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner? Because he needs us
Trump's dramatic return to the White House Correspondents' Dinner
Saturday 25 April 2026 16:40 , Josh Marcus
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of tonight’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
After years of battling with the press, and a string of lawsuits against major outlets whose coverage he does not like, Donald Trump is set to return to the dinner for the first time as president.
He broke presidential tradition by skipping past iterations, and the event was canceled multiple times during the height of the Covid pandemic.
We’ll be following all the biggest lines from the D.C. media’s biggest night. Stay tuned.