President Donald Trump attended the annual White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) Dinner Friday night for the first time in either of his two presidential terms.
The event was rescheduled from its original April 25 date after a crazed gunman allegedly tried to assassinate the 47th president, bull rushing security with several weapons and firing a shot before he was taken into custody.
Here are five top highlights from the dinner:
TRUMP HEADS BACK TO CORRESPONDENTS DINNER MONTHS AFTER GUNFIRE FORCED EVACUATION
Trump and the press typically find themselves at odds, and while Friday night had its share of uncomfortable moments, both sides were able to find some common ground â especially after sharing a scary moment at the originally scheduled dinner in April.
Before presenting one of the many awards of the night, ABC’s Jon Karl thanked the president for his attendance.
“Mr. President, I want to say it matters that you came here tonight,” said Karl. “For more than 100 years, presidents have chosen to sit in a room of reporters who asked tough and often uncomfortable questions, and who report without fear or favor. It’s important. Thank you for being here.”
TRUMP PRAISES PRESS AFTER WHCD SHOOTING, SAYS UNITY AT DINNER WAS ‘BEAUTIFUL’
WHCA outgoing President and the dinner’s emcee Weijia Jiang also had kind words for the president, just before she introduced him to speak and after discussing the importance of the First Amendment.
“President Trump, I’ve covered you for a long time, and so have many reporters in this room. When we ask questions, you push back, you give us answers and we push back,” she said. “You have always been a deal guy. Well, that’s the deal. And the First Amendment is a done deal. And that’s what we toast tonight. The freedoms that brought us back together even after they were threatened.”Â
“So let’s raise a glass to what makes ours a beautiful country.”
Later in the night, Trump concluded his speech with a warm message for the press delivered in his own style.
“I just want to say, this room â I have tremendous respect for the people in this room,” Trump said.Â
“Sometimes I dont feel you treat me fair, maybe you do, I dont know,” he continued. “I dont feel that. But sometimes you treat me fairly, and I have a lot of respect for your profession. Its amazing. And I just want to thank you for having me, and its been fun.”
Trump made a series of jokes throughout his speech, some targeting the press, and others targeting people he appointed to positions of power.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was on the receiving end of a quip from the 47th president after Trump told attendees he hoped they enjoyed their beef tenderloin dinner.
“I want you all to know that Bobby Kennedy, who’s right here, personally ran over the cow with his car,” he jabbed. “And he cut it up and he brought
