Trump Defends Press Freedom, Criticises Media at White House Dinner

Igwe Grace

U.S. President Donald Trump called for respect for press freedom while criticising sections of the media during the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) dinner on Saturday. The event returned three months after its first gathering was cut short by a shooting at the venue.

Speaking before journalists, Trump said disagreements should be settled through open debate rather than violence. He also honoured U.S. Secret Service officer Victor Gonzalez for his actions during the April shooting, in which a gunman was stopped before reaching the ballroom where the dinner was taking place.

Although Trump praised many journalists for their work, he also repeated his criticism of what he called the "fake news" media and joked that the dinner brought together the largest group of people with "Trump Derangement Syndrome." He also said news organisations would struggle for stories once he leaves office and jokingly suggested he could seek another term.

The dinner was attended by about 700 guests, including senior government officials and journalists from major news organisations such as CNN, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Security was significantly tighter than at the previous event, with heavy police presence, multiple security checks and road closures around the venue.

The White House Correspondents Association said next year's dinner will return to the Washington Hilton, where the April shooting occurred. The suspect in the attack has been charged with attempting to assassinate the U.S. president, while organisers said the event would continue to celebrate press freedom despite the violence.

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