President Donald Trump told journalists at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Friday night that some of them do not like him [1].
The event highlighted the ongoing tension between the president and the press, serving as a platform for Trump to rally supporters by mocking media criticism [2].
Speaking at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C., Trump addressed a crowd of hundreds of journalists [3]. During his remarks, he targeted the audience's perception of him. "Some of you don’t like me," Trump said [4].
He continued by suggesting his own perception of the room might be skewed. "I am probably being sensitive, but sometimes I really do think that some of you don't like me," Trump said [5].
Trump further characterized the gathered press as the "largest group of Trump Derangement Syndrome people ever put together at one time" [6]. This appearance marked the first time a sitting president attended the dinner [7].
The event took place on July 24, 2026. This specific dinner had been rescheduled from its original date after a gunman opened fire in April 2024 [8].
Reports on the reception of the speech varied. Some accounts described the remarks as sharp jabs directed at the press [6], while other reports suggested the president "bombed" and that his remarks fell flat [9].
“"Some of you don’t like me."”
The president's attendance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner breaks historical precedent and underscores a strategy of using traditional media forums to challenge the legitimacy of the press. By framing journalistic criticism as a syndrome, the administration reinforces a polarized relationship with the media that prioritizes direct communication with supporters over professional press relations.
