U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at the press, dismissing them as "fake news," during the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) annual dinner on the 24th local time.

President Trump delivered a speech at the WHCA dinner held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The event, originally scheduled for late April but disrupted by an armed gunman's shooting, was held again about three months later.

Initially, President Trump appeared to take a relatively amicable approach.

He smiled warmly and shook hands with journalists who had won awards for articles critical of the Trump administration.

President Trump soon remarked, "These are great people. I don't like all of you, but I respect most of you," while also noting, "So many people afflicted with 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' have gathered in one place."

Mentioning the shooting incident from April, he emphasized, "In America, we do not bow to political violence," drawing loud applause.

However, that atmosphere did not last long.

Lumping the press together as "fake news," he called out specific journalists he has frequently criticized by name and insulted them with personal attacks, such as calling them "the least intelligent people on television."

Referring to CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins, he said, "She won an award for fake news," and added, "She never smiles. Go ahead, smile."

President Trump has previously singled out Collins to demand that she smile, which drew criticism as sexist behavior.

He referred to The New York Times as the "failing New York Times."

CNN immediately issued a statement defending its journalists, as if it had been prepared in advance.

He also singled out political rivals from the Democratic Party, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and famous figures with whom he has had uneasy relations, such as late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, launching into criticisms with an agitated tone.


In the middle of his speech, President Trump pulled out a red hat prominently emblazoned with "Trump 2028," putting it on as he jokingly said, "I have won (elections) three times. This could be a scoop, but I am thinking about running for president of the United States a fourth time."

During the speech, which lasted about an hour—surpassing the scheduled 40 minutes—almost no laughter was heard outside of the beginning.

WHCA President Weijia Jiang of CBS News introduced President Trump by saying, "The president has always been a negotiator, and the First Amendment is a deal that cannot be undone."

This was an emphasis on the importance of the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, in front of President Trump.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)