As you probably know by now, the White House Correspondents’ Association redid its annual ball after it was initially cut short after an attack by a deranged terrorist. President Trump attended for the first time in his capacity as President and delivered a monologue wherein he roasted the media. Some in the Elitist Media take exception to the speech.
Watch as CNN’s Brian Stelter pans Trump’s performance, claiming he “bombed”, as aired on CNN Newsroom on Saturday, July 25th, 2026:
WATCH: Brian Stelter pans Trump’s WHCD speech, says he "bombed", laments it was "about himself" and echoes journos saying the dinner should be scrapped next year.
DANNY FREEMAN: I want to switch gears, though, for a moment, because there was a big media event last night. And in… pic.twitter.com/RQgBHWEXiq— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) July 26, 2026
DANNY FREEMAN: I want to switch gears, though, for a moment, because there was a big media event last night. And in your analysis of the White House Correspondents' Dinner redo, you said that President Trump, quote, “bombed his speech”. So I'm curious, do you think that President Trump's speech left the impression he was aiming for?
BRIAN STELTER: Gosh, really, there were some dark jokes as attendees were leaving the ballroom last night. Talking about Trump was so good at bombing coming off of what is a very real and ugly war with Iran. And then he's in this room talking about politics, talking about the war, but mostly talking about himself. If you go back and reread the transcript or if people watched live here on CNN last night, you heard a lot of rambling, a lot of meandering. He calls it weaving. I might call it narcissism. He knew he was bombing in the moment. And that's what I thought was so interesting. The president knew he was bombing and he tried to joke about it. He tried to joke his way out of it, and that didn't work either. It fell flat and attendees actually were leaving, saying, maybe this dinner shouldn't happen next year. That's how awkward the situation was with the president at that press dinner.
You know, I was so struck by his putting on a Trump 2028 hat because earlier in the speech, he said he was always just joking about wanting to run for office again for an unconstitutional third term. He even made references- ballroom at length, and he said he was only going to have the ballroom for about six months before it's somebody else's turn to have the new White House ballroom, so Trump knows his time is limited, but he still put on that red hat. It was a deliberate troll of the press, maybe also a warning. And I think that imagery is so interesting. Right? His fans see that hat and they see a fantasy. His detractors see that hat and they see a wannabe autocrat. The most generous interpretation of that hat is that it's a wish for his MAGA movement to continue Trumpism 2028. But the truth is, there's not anywhere close to a majority in America rooting for that. The headline on the latest Fox News poll was headlined “voters want major change amid economic and political discontent”. That poll had no good news for Republicans. And truth be told, when Trump wears that Trump 2028 hat, I think it probably helps his Democratic challengers.
FREEMAN: Well, Brian Stelter, thank you so much for that analysis. And I know that one thing that is universally felt here at CNN is a pride for both Wolf Blitzer and Kaitlan Collins after last night. Appreciate it, Brian.
STELTER: Absolutely. Absolutely. Thank you.
We were reliably told that the Correspondent’s Dinner, colloquially known as Nerd Prom, was a celebration of the First Amendment and its protection of our ability to upbraid the powerful. What about Trump’s First Amendment right to criticize the press? When, exactly, did the Elite Media become an supra institutional clerisy accountable to no one?
So offended are the media elites by Trump’s monologue that there are now grumblings about not having the dinner next year. This is comically hypocritical. The media seal-clapped through the Obama presidency, even as his administration wiretapped AP journalists and hacked Sharryl Atkisson and went after the Jameses: Rosen and Risen. Never once did you hear a word of protest or concern over autocracy. But let Trump put on a trollish “Trump 2028” red hat and Stelter breaks for the fainting couch.
It appears that some First Amendment rights are more equal than others.
