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US President Donald Trump joked about running for a fourth term and mocked journalists, including CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins and Wall Street Journal reporter Josh Dawsey, during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Friday night.
“I’m pleased to announce my intention to, and this is somewhat of a scoop, my intention to run for a fourth term as president of the United States. I will be doing that,” Trump said, slipping on a “Trump 2028” hat.
The 80-year-old president, whose second term ends in January 2029, is constitutionally barred from seeking a fourth term under the 22nd Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms.
🚨 LMFAO! President Trump just put on a TRUMP 2028 HAT after saying “I won 3 times, and I’m GONNA DO IT AGAIN!”
“I’m gonna do it again. SHOULD BE EASY. I am getting really good at running for president. I won 3 times. Rigged election the 2nd time.”
😂🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/xSi6wooEKm
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 25, 2026
The event, which celebrates press freedom and honours journalism, came three months after the first was cancelled by a shooting.
Trump, who frequently criticises the media, told the room of journalists that the news industry would “be broke” after he leaves office.
“You people have no idea how lucky you are. When I’m gone, you’re all going to be broke. Your business model is going to be finished. There’s not going to be anybody to report on. Nobody gives a damn about anybody else,” Trump said.
He also criticised Collins, whom he frequently mocks, saying the CNN anchor “shouldn’t get the award” and calling her reporting “fake.”
“You’re at CNN fake news. You should be a happy person. Just smile, Kaitlan. Just smile,” Trump said, drawing some boos from the audience before the room fell quiet.
Trump also called out Wall Street Journal reporter Josh Dawsey, saying, “He’s been killing me for years. And yet tonight he shakes my hand. He hugs me. Everything nice. He kills me.”
The president, who has a long history of attacking the press, also joked about term limits in Congress and delivered a joke about a senator that drew little laughter, prompting him to say, “I thought that was actually pretty good. That was actually the only thing I thought was good in this whole freaking stupid speech that they wrote.”
Despite the barbs, Trump concluded his hour-long speech by expressing “tremendous respect” for the media.
“I just want to say, it is a room I have tremendous respect for the people in this room. Sometimes I don’t feel you treat me fair. Maybe you do. I don’t know. I don’t feel that but sometimes you treat me very fairly, and I have a lot of respect for your profession,” he said.
