President Donald Trump made headlines during the recent White House Correspondents’ Dinner, held on 24 July, when his comments towards CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins caused a moment of discomfort among the gathered journalists and government officials. The event, originally scheduled for April, had been postponed due to a shooting incident, and attendees noted the heightened security and reduced guest list at the Astoria Waldorf hotel, formerly owned by Trump himself.
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In an extended speech that exceeded an hour, Trump turned his attention to Collins, who had just received an accolade for her reporting on his controversial interaction with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy back in February 2025. “I want to personally congratulate CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on receiving her award,” Trump began, before undermining its validity by suggesting, “It was all about me. It’s a fake—she shouldn’t get the award, it was fake.”
As he continued, Trump resumed his familiar critiques of Collins, who was seated near the stage. “She’s a young, attractive woman. She never smiles,” he quipped. “I said, ‘Kaitlan, do you ever smile? Smile. You have a nice position, you’re at CNN fake news, you should be a happy person. So smile, Kaitlan, just smile.’” The remarks elicited a mix of glances among the audience, including CNN colleague Wolf Blitzer, who looked towards Collins for her reaction, though she appeared to avert her gaze.
What followed was an attempt at humour from Trump that fell flat among attendees. He compared Collins unfavourably to transgender actress Dylan Mulvaney, recalling a Bud Light advertisement from 2023. “I thought Kaitlan had really made it big with a major new sponsorship,” Trump said, “but then I informed her that it wasn’t her on the Bud Light can, it was Dylan Mulvaney.”
Mulvaney’s brief partnership with Bud Light had sparked significant backlash from conservative circles, leading to boycotts and a substantial decline in the brand’s sales following accusations of “wokeness.” Trump capitalised on this sentiment during his speech, stating, “Dylan Mulvaney cost Bud Light $35 billion in market cap. That was the worst commercial ever made.”
The Correspondents’ Dinner was characterised by a rather surreal atmosphere. This was due in part to it being a reduced affair, with only a quarter of the original guest list attending, and the serious backdrop of heightened security following the earlier April incident. Trump’s remarks were laced with his characteristic blend of jest and grievance towards the media, which has been a recurring theme throughout his presidency.
The evening featured an awards presentation where several journalists were recognised for their contributions to the field. One particularly striking moment came when The Wall Street Journal was honoured with the Katherine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability. This recognition stemmed from their extensive reporting on Trump’s connections to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Blitzer acknowledged the Journal’s brave coverage, which prompted the release of documents that might otherwise have remained undisclosed.
During this presentation, Trump exhibited a mixture of laughter and indifference towards the award being given to the Journal. The recognition underscored a critical aspect of his presidency and media engagement, highlighting tensions resultant from investigative journalism.
Trump’s contentious relationship with the press has often been marked by personal attacks and complaints about the media, a trend that continued at this year’s Correspondents’ Dinner. While the event aimed to celebrate the work of journalists, Trump’s comments serve to illustrate ongoing divisions and the complexity of interactions between the White House and the press corps.
As the evening concluded, the event encapsulated a rare convergence of media, politics, and personal dynamics within a historically charged environment. With emotions ranging from applause to awkward silences, attendees were left contemplating the current state of reportage and its interaction with those in power. Moving forward, it is apparent that this relationship will define not only the media landscape but also the nature of political discourse in the coming years.