Credit: Shealah Craighead, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
US President Donald Trump drew laughs and sparked political commentary after jokingly declaring his intention to seek a “fourth term” in office during the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington.
Speaking at the annual event on Friday, July 24, 2026, Trump delivered an hour-long address peppered with jokes targeting news outlets, political rivals, and media personalities before making the surprise remark.
“To show just how much I care about the press and I want to save your ratings, 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,” Trump quipped to the room of journalists.
To underline the joke, Trump pulled out a red “Trump 2028” baseball cap and placed it on his head, adding, “I won three times, now I’m going to do it again.”
The humor referenced his long-standing claims regarding the 2020 election while brushing past the US Constitution’s 22nd Amendment, which strictly limits individuals from serving more than two terms as president.
Rescheduled gala after security incident
The annual dinner, which traditionally celebrates press freedom and scholarship awards, was rescheduled to July after the original April event was postponed following a shooting incident at a security checkpoint outside the venue.
Reflecting on the tighter security environment and attendance, Trump poked fun at the journalists present.
“I know it was not easy finding shoes to go along with your bulletproof vest, which many people didn’t want to wear because they’d rather die than look 20 pounds heavier,” he joked.
Despite his past history of skipping the gala during his first presidential term, Trump remained in attendance for the awards ceremony, shaking hands with winning journalists before taking the stage for his address.
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