Trump set to attend his first White House Correspondents' Dinner as president

White HouseTrump set to attend his first White House Correspondents' Dinner as presidentTrump's planned attendance gives him a new venue to air his grievances with the journalists who cover him.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00President Donald Trump skipped the annual dinner during his first term, as well as the first year of his second term. Kent Nishimura / AFP via Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 25, 2026, 5:00 AM EDTBy Casey WootenPresident Donald Trump is set to attend White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner for the first time as commander-in-chief, surrounded by the journalists he routinely berates and threatens.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Until now, Trump had been the only president in the event’s century-long history not to attend at least once while in office. In years past, presidents have typically endured a light roasting from the dinner’s headliner, typically a comedian.This year, the correspondents’ association opted to book mentalist Oz Pearlman. The association also didn’t have a comedian perform last year, instead focusing on its journalism awards.The dinner comes amid the backdrop of war with Iran, which has led to higher gas prices around the world and volatility in the stock market. It also comes as Trump’s approval rating hit a new low in a recent NBC News poll, with 37% of respondents approving of his job performance and 63% disapproving. Trump was well underwater on his handling of inflation and the cost of living, with 68% saying they disapproved of his policies. The slide also extends to Trump’s handling of the Iran war, with 67% of respondents disapproving.Add NBC News to GoogleTrump’s approval rating hits record low in NBC News Poll00:50The gala is meant to celebrate the nation’s most dogged White House reporting, but Trump’s turn as guest of honor will give him another opportunity to air his grievances with the journalis...