Trump's return to White House Correspondents' Dinner marks political journey coming full circle

President Donald Trump announced he is ending his years-long boycott of the White House Correspondents' Dinner by accepting the invitation for this year's banquet. Donald Trump Trump's return to White House Correspondents' Dinner marks political journey coming full circle Many believe ridicule Trump faced from Obama and Seth Meyers at 2011 dinner fueled his political ambitions By Joseph A. Wulfsohn Fox News Published March 5, 2026 8:00am EST Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Anti-Trump comedian admits her hosting the White House Correspondents' dinner could have harmed press reputation Anti-Trump comedian Amber Ruffin said Wednesday that her hosting the White House Correspondents' dinner could have negatively impacted the White House press corps, during an interview on "The View." NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Buried in a news cycle dominated by the military strikes on Iran carried out by the U.S. and Israel, President Donald Trump announced Monday that he had accepted an invitation from the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) to attend its annual dinner next month. "The White House Correspondents Association has asked me, very nicely, to be the Honoree at this year’s Dinner, a long and storied tradition since it began in 1924, under then President Calvin Coolidge," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "In honor of our Nation’s 250th Birthday, and the fact that these 'Correspondents' now admit that I am truly one of the Greatest Presidents in the History of our Country, the G.O.A.T., according to many, it will be my Honor to accept their invitation, and work to make it the GREATEST, HOTTEST, and MOST SPECTACULAR DINNER, OF ANY KIND, EVER!" President Donald Trump gives a speech about the economy at the Coosa Steel Corporation factory in Rome, Georgia, on Feb. 19, 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) DePauw University journalism professor Jeffrey McCall suggested that while Trump's view of the press remains unchanged, he's savvy enough to use the dinner to his political advantage, especially ahead of the midterms. "Trump is battling to maintain poll numbers, and he also needs broader public support heading into the midterms, so engaging the media, and, by extension, the public, serves his purposes," McCall told Fox News Digital.The White House Correspondents' Dinner (WHCD), the annual banquet that celebrates the First Amendment and give scholarships to journalism students, was once a non-partisan event where the president and reporters can break bread and put tensions aside while being entertained by some high-profile performer — usually a comedian. Trump famously boycotted what's been dubbed "nerd prom" during his first term, as well as last year's during the first year of his second term. But his return this year will mark his political journey coming in full circle as many believe the WHCD in 2011 is what truly fueled his aspirations to seek the Oval Office.The elephant in the roomThe last time Trump attended the WHCD was when the country only knew him as a celebrity real estate mogul and host of "The Apprentice." However, Trump had also been generating headlines for his outspoken skepticism that President Barack Obama was born in the U.S. and called for the release of his birth certificate. Days before the 2011 WHCD, the State of Hawaii released Obama's long-form birth certificate proving his citizenship. "Donald Trump is here tonight," Obama said to the room filled with the Washington elite. "Now I know he's taken some flak lately, but no one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The Donald. And that's because he could finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter — like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?" "All kidding aside, obviously we all know about your credentials and breadth of experience," Obama further jabbed at Trump before poking fun at his "Celebrity Apprentice" gig and mocking the "change" he'd bring to the White House, suggesting he'd overhaul it into a hotel and casino.WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER HOST SAYS 'NO ONE WANTS' TRUMP TO SHOW UP President Barack Obama spent several minutes mocking Donald Trump during the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner. (Martin H. Simon-Pool/Getty Images)Liberal comedian Seth Meyers then took to the podium to roast Trump. "Donald Trump has been saying that he will run for president as a Republican, which is surprising since I just assumed he'd be running as a joke," Meyers quipped, sparking huge laughs from the audience as the camera was aimed at a stern-faced Trump."Gary Busey said recently that Donald Trump would make a great president. Of course, he said the same thing about an old, rusty birdcage he found," Meyers later continued. "Donald Trump recently said that he has a great relationship with the Blacks, though unless the Blacks are a family of White people, I bet he's mistaken."'THE VIEW' CO-HOSTS RAGE AT WH CORRESPONDENTS' ASSOCIATION AFTER DROPPING ANTI-TRUMP COMEDIAN Obama mocked the "change" that Donald Trump woul