President Donald Trump turned the White House Correspondents Dinner into a pointed roast of the establishment press on Friday night, branding the black-tie gala the largest single gathering of people suffering from Trump derangement syndrome."
The annual event, long criticized by conservatives as a self-congratulatory ritual for a liberal-leaning media class, unfolded much as expected: journalists first handed each other awards for their coverage of President Trump, then watched as he dismantled the room with a series of barbs. According to Breitbart, moments after the press corps finished celebrating its own work, the President stepped to the podium and delivered his opening shot: This place is the really largest group of Trump derangement syndrome people ever put together at one time, I suspect.
From there, President Trump moved seamlessly into a string of jokes that skewered both political figures and media personalities, underscoring his long-running critique of a hostile press and an out-of-touch ruling class. He targeted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with a mock tribute to the evenings menu, declaring, I hope everyone finally got to enjoy their entire, very delicious beef tenderloin; Its very special beef. And I want you all to know that Bobby Kennedy, who is right here, personally ran over the cow in his car and he cut it up, and he brought it here for you to eat tonight, so its very fresh, Trump said.
The President extended the gag to Kennedys wife, actress Cheryl Hines, with a darker flourish that underscored his taste for politically incorrect humor. And Bobby also suggested an appetizer featuring his favorite cut of male raccoon roadkill, but we drew the line at that, Cheryl, Trump added, roping Kennedys wife, Cheryl Hines, into the joke.
He then turned his attention to CNN, a frequent target of conservative criticism for its slanted coverage and relentless opposition to his presidency. Speaking of anchor Anderson Cooper, Trump remarked, I like Anderson actually because hes covered me well for many years, then he went bad as soon as I went for politics I did so many interviews with him, and he was great. But you know hes got a little different persuasion than me, in many ways actually, he said of Cooper.
Kaitlan Collins, another CNN figure elevated by the network as a Trump foil, was not spared either. I thought Kaitlan had really made it big with a major new sponsorship, but then I informed her that it wasnt her on the Bud Light can, it was Dylan Mulvaney, he said, tying her to the controversial transgender influencer at the center of a Bud Light boycott that resonated strongly with conservative consumers.
As the evening drew to a close, President Trump circled back to the theme that has defined his political career: his refusal to bow out of the national stage despite relentless media opposition. With a characteristic blend of showmanship and defiance, he capped his remarks by teasing yet another run for the White House, declaring, Im pleased to announce my intention to, and this is somewhat of a scoop, my intention to run for a fourth term as president of the United States, he said while putting on a Trump 2028 hat.
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