Trump Jokes About Third Term, Mocks Foes at Press Dinner

In a rambling, hour-long speech at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Friday, President Donald Trump mixed lighthearted jabs with sharp insults aimed at political opponents and members of the press, culminating in a quip about seeking a third term—a comment that drew awkward silence from the audience of journalists and officials. The dinner, held at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, was rescheduled from April after a security incident forced its cancellation.

A Night of Insults and Mockery

Trump’s address was a mix of scripted jokes and ad-libbed barbs. He mocked the weight of former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and New York Congressman Jerry Nadler, imagining the two wrestling over a piece of cheesecake. He also ridiculed the appearance of Bruce Springsteen, saying the musician “looks like hell,” and took aim at CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, who had been honored earlier for her White House coverage, telling her she does not smile enough. The president said he “hated” Senator Adam Schiff, mocking the size of his head and neck.

One of the more memorable quips targeted his health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has championed the health benefits of beef tallow and animal protein. Trump joked that Kennedy had personally run over the cow that became the evening’s “very delicious beef tenderloin.”

Trump Targets the Media

Despite attending an event celebrating press freedom, Trump did not hold back his criticism of the news media, which he has repeatedly labeled as “fake news.” At one point, he told the room of journalists, “Don’t believe the fake news.” However, he also offered a rare note of praise, saying journalists do an “amazing job.” Earlier in the evening, several reporters were honored for their coverage of Trump and his administration, including the team behind a Wall Street Journal story about a letter Trump allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein.

The gala came a day after the Trump administration abandoned a bid to subpoena reporters over their coverage, a move that had drawn widespread condemnation from press freedom advocates.

The Third-Term Joke and Its Implications

The most awkward moment of the night came when Trump made a joke about term limits that fell flat. He broke the fourth wall, asking the audience whether anyone understood “this whole freakin stupid speech that they wrote.” He then ended his remarks by declaring that he planned to run and win a fourth election—a reference both to his false claim that he won the 2020 election and to his repeated suggestion that he could seek a third term, despite the Constitution’s two-term limit. “I won three times, now I’m going to do it again,” the president said, sarcastically, placing a red “Trump 2028” hat on his head.

The room’s subdued response reflected the tension between Trump’s combative relationship with the press and the traditional collegiality of the correspondents’ dinner. The event, originally scheduled for April, was canceled after a man fired a shotgun at a security checkpoint outside the ballroom.

Looking ahead, Trump’s comments have already sparked renewed discussion about his intentions regarding term limits. While the 22nd Amendment clearly bars a third term, Trump’s repeated allusions to serving beyond two terms have raised eyebrows among constitutional scholars. The president’s remarks at the dinner are likely to fuel further debate about his respect for democratic norms and the rule of law.