WASHINGTON, D.C.: This year, the White House Correspondents' Association's annual dinner in April will feature a new guest and speaker – U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump agreed to attend the dinner this year, ending the combative relationship he has had with the press.
"The White House Correspondents Association has asked me, very nicely, to be the Honoree at this year's Dinner," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, adding it would be his "Honor to accept their invitation" after skipping the gathering during his first term and last year.
Trump has for years ridiculed the event as elitist and has frequently attacked journalists and urged supporters to boycott mainstream media institutions.
The yearly dinner, often called "Washington's prom," has been held since 1924. It brings together reporters, government leaders, and celebrities for a night that usually includes political jokes and speeches about press freedom and the First Amendment.
Although Donald Trump did not attend the dinner while he was president, he went as a guest in 2011 during President Barack Obama's administration. At that event, Obama made several jokes about Trump in a widely watched speech that became a memorable moment in Washington politics.
The dinner later became controversial in 2018 when comedian Michelle Wolf delivered a sharp, critical performance aimed at Trump, his administration, and the media.
After criticism from some journalists and political leaders, the White House Correspondents' Association decided to stop inviting comedians for a few years and instead chose speakers who focused more on journalism and public service.
