WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump used his speech at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Friday, July 24, at the Waldorf Astoria to deliver an extended series of jokes aimed at Hollywood figures and the news media. Speaking to an audience of journalists, political figures and celebrities, Trump blended commentary on recent events with prepared punchlines, positioning his appearance as a traditional roast-style address that has long been a hallmark of the annual dinner. The event, held in the U.S. capital, continued the dinner’s role as a forum where presidents publicly spar with the press in a largely lighthearted setting. Trump drew particular attention when he brought up rapper Nicki Minaj while recalling the association’s April gala, which had been abruptly halted after a gunman breached security and opened fire. Referring to the chaotic scene that followed the shots, Trump said that when attendees shouted “Get down!” in response to the gunfire, Minaj began twerking, a line that played on her public persona and performance style. The joke, delivered as part of his broader routine, underscored how Trump used pop culture references to frame his remarks and elicited laughter in the room while revisiting a serious security incident that had disrupted a previous association event.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.