ABC’s Good Morning America had the most to say of the three broadcast networks on Saturday after President Trump addressed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner the previous evening. Correspondent Steven Portnoy got in all the usual beats, including referring to the dinner as “a celebration of the First Amendment” and lamenting Trump’s “insulting” performance. To make matters worse, Portnoy claimed the dinner was rescheduled because the April attacker wanted to target, not Trump, but “the dinner.”
Before his video report, Portnoy began by hyping, “The event had White House reporters insisting political violence can't stop a celebration of the First Amendment.”
ABC correspondent Steven Portnoy laments Trump's White House Correspondets' Dinner speech, "But much of his hour long remarks had the president insulting his press corps hosts."
He also says the event was rescheuled because the dinner, not Trump, was targeted " 31-year-old Cole… pic.twitter.com/5XzIlVf4sN— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) July 25, 2026
That sounds nice, but the political violence was aimed at Trump and members of his administration. Sure, the journalists in that room could have been hurt or killed in the chaos should the worst have happened, and that should not be minimized, but it is still a fact that the attacker was targeting people’s First Amendment right to support Trump.
As it was, Portnoy kicked off his pre-recorded report by declaring, “With fewer guests and far less glitz, the toned-down redo of the White House Correspondents Dinner still made history as President Trump spoke at the event for the first time.”
Portnoy did allow for the fact that Trump told some jokes and highlighted the one about HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. running over the cow that provided the evening’s dinner. However, he did lament, "Much of his hour-long remarks had the president insulting his press corps hosts.”
He also found it ironic that Trump was at a dinner honoring journalists, “Trump was seen congratulating the journalists who were honored by the association for work he blasted when it was published and even filed a lawsuit over in a case a judge dismissed.”
Portnoy then returned to the fact that Friday’s dinner was a rescheduling by omitting the Trump-specific angle of the April attack, “The do-over dinner went off without a hitch at a different venue with a smaller ballroom. Three months after the initial event was derailed by an alleged attacker. Authorities say 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen traveled cross-country by train from Southern California with the intent to strike the April dinner. Allen has pleaded not guilty to four counts.”
As for the other networks, NBC’s Today did not air on Saturday due to Tour de France coverage, while CBS Saturday Morning only devoted a few sentences to the dinner in two separate larger reports about other topics.
Here is a transcript for the July 25 show:
ABC Good Morning America
7/25/2026
8:06 AM ET
STEVEN PORTNOY: The event had White House reporters insisting political violence can't stop a celebration of the First Amendment.
WEIJIA JIANG: President Donald J. Trump.
PORTNOY: With fewer guests and far less glitz, the toned-down redo of the White House Correspondents Dinner still made history as President Trump spoke at the event for the first time.
DONALD TRUMP: Let's have a little bit of fun. You know, I said, “What do we do here? Is this supposed to be fun? Am I supposed to be serious? Am I supposed to be a comedian?”
PORTNOY: Trump did come prepared with jokes.
TRUMP: I hope that everyone finally got to enjoy their entire, very delicious beef tenderloin. It's very special beef. And I want you all to know that Bobby Kennedy is right here. Personally ran over the cow in his car.
PORTNOY: But much of his hour-long remarks had the president insulting his press corps hosts.
TRUMP: You can be very difficult. You can be very, very difficult people.
PORTNOY: Trump was seen congratulating the journalists who were honored by the association for work he blasted when it was published and even filed a lawsuit over in a case a judge dismissed.
TRUMP: This has not been an easy evening. All these awards. Do I have a say in those awards-- on those awards?
PORTNOY: The president ended his speech donning a Trump 2028 cap.
TRUMP: Thank you.
PORTNOY: The do-over dinner went off without a hitch at a different venue with a smaller ballroom. Three months after the initial event was derailed by an alleged attacker. Authorities say 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen traveled cross-country by train from Southern California with the intent to strike the April dinner. Allen has pleaded not guilty to four counts.
