See White House Correspondents' Dinner red carpet looks, notable moments
Updated April 25, 2026, 9:41 p.m. ET
U.S. President Donald Trump, with first lady Melania Trump, salutes during the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump, first lady Melania Trump and other officials were evacuated out of the dinner minutes after it began, as attendees took cover on the floor, after loud bangs were heard.
Trump was attending the dinner for the first time in more than a decade – and his first time ever as president. He has repeatedly skipped the annual event, which brings together Washington’s most powerful and the reporters who cover them. The president last attended in 2015 as a guest. His appearance at the dinner in 2011 went viral after he was roasted by then-President Barack Obama.
Jonathan Ernst, REUTERSTrump was attending the dinner for the first time in more than a decade – and his first time ever as president. He has repeatedly skipped the annual event, which brings together Washington’s most powerful and the reporters who cover them. The president last attended in 2015 as a guest. His appearance at the dinner in 2011 went viral after he was roasted by then-President Barack Obama.

Agents draw their guns after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office.
MANDEL NGAN, AFP Via Getty Images
Katie Miller and Stephen Miller are escorted 1after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire.
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Agents stand guard after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire.
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First lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump and CBS News senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang attend the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
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US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife actress Cheryl Hines attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP Via Getty ImagesU.S. President Donald Trump's motorcade drives to the venue of the 2026 White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner, in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026.
Ken Cedeno, REUTERS
(L-R) Pamela Brown and Wolf Blitzer attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Audie Cornish attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Stephen A. Smith attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Paul Morigi, Getty ImagesU.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth kisses his wife Jennifer Rauchet as they pose on the red carpet for the 2026 White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026.
Elizabeth Frantz, REUTERS
NBC journalist Lester Holt attends the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP Via Getty Images
CNN journalist Kaitlan Collins attends the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
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Kelly O'Donnell attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Paul Morigi, Getty ImagesTaylor Lorenz poses on the red carpet for the 2026 White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026.
Elizabeth Frantz, REUTERS
Peter Doocy and Jacqui Heinrich attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Lisa Oz and Mehmet Oz attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Suzanne Kianpour attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Norah O'Donnell attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Linda McMahon attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Paul Morigi, Getty ImagesU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his wife Jeanette Dousdebes Rubio pose on the red carpet for the 2026 White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026.
Elizabeth Frantz, REUTERS
James Kirchick (L) attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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(L-R) Caitlin Huey-Burns and Matthew Rodak attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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CEO of C-SPAN Sam Feist attends the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. US President Donald Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP Via Getty Images
White House deputy chief of staff for policy and US homeland security advisor Stephen Miller attends the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP Via Getty ImagesKari Lake poses on the red carpet for the 2026 White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026.
Elizabeth Frantz, REUTERS
CBS News journalist Christina Ruffini attends the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP Via Getty Images
(L-R) Michael Moroney and Francesca Chambers attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Chief of Staff to Robert Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Nancy Lee and her husband Ryan Graham attend the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP Via Getty Images
US journalist Jon Decker and his wife Caroline Decker attend the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
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CBS News' senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang attends the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
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Liz Landers attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Nancy Lee (R) attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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(L-R) Debra O'Connell, Almin Karamehmedovic and Karen Travers attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Olivia Rubin attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Face The Nation journalist Margaret Brennan attends the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
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Jeff Ballou and Rasheedah Thomas Ballou attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Jessica Sibley attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Alina Habba attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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ABC News journalist Selina Wang attends the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP Via Getty Images
CBS News journalist Sarah Cook attends the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP Via Getty Images
Trey Yingst, chief foreign correspondent for Fox News, attends the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP Via Getty Images
Louisiana governor Jeff Landry and his wife Sharon Landry attend the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP Via Getty Images
Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Mehmet Oz and his wife author Lisa Oz attend the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
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Rachel Scott attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Boris Sanchez and Brianna Keilar attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Mary Bruce attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Michael McCaul (R-TX) (2nd R) attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Katherine Maher (C) attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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David Chalian attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Alok Patel attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Matt Friend attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Paul Morigi, Getty Images
Kelly Loeffler attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Sandra Smith attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Monica Crowley attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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(L-R) Nancy Cordes, Vladimir Duthiers and Cecilia Vega attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Kasie Hunt attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Paul Morigi, Getty Images
Charles Rivkin attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Paul Morigi, Getty Images
Jeff Zeleny (L) and Kaitlan Collins (2nd L) attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Paul Morigi, Getty Images
Protesters gather across the street from the Washington Hilton to demonstrate against The White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. Some media members have called for press attending the dinner to forcefully protest against the Trump Administration amid ongoing threats to the First Amendment.
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CNN journalist Kristen Holmes attends the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP Via Getty Images
Former White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley and Jordan Rachel attend the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP Via Getty Images
White House deputy chief of staff for policy and US homeland security advisor Stephen Miller and his wife Katie Miller attend the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP Via Getty Images
(L-R) Chris Wright, United States Secretary of Energy, and Liz Wright attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Nicole Young attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Paul Morigi, Getty Images
Linsey Davis attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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(L-R) Bret Baier and Amy Baier attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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White House Bureau Chief for Politico Dasha Burns attends the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP Via Getty ImagesU.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, pose on the red carpet for the 2026 White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026.
Elizabeth Frantz, REUTERSU.S. Vice President JD Vance's motorcade arrives at the venue of the 2026 White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner, in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026.
Ken Cedeno, REUTERSHomeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and his wife, Christie Mullin, pose on the red carpet for the 2026 White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026.
Elizabeth Frantz, REUTERSU.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent poses on the red carpet for the 2026 White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026.
Elizabeth Frantz, REUTERSU.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and his wife Kathryn Burgum pose on the red carpet for the 2026 White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026.
Elizabeth Frantz, REUTERSActing Attorney General Todd Blanche and his wife Kristine Blanche pose on the red carpet for the 2026 White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026.
Elizabeth Frantz, REUTERS
US journalist Shelly Kittleson (L), who was recently released after being kidnapped in Iraq, and US journalist Jason Rezaian attend the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP Via Getty Images
US reporter Kit Maher attends the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. US President Donald Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office.
ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP Via Getty Images
Melanie Zanona attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Paul Morigi, Getty Images
Shannon Bream attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Paul Morigi, Getty Images
Oz Pearlman and Elisa Rosen attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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Jeanine Pirro attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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President Donald Trump speaks to journalists before boarding Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on April 25, 2026. President Trump is on his way back to Washington where he will be attending the White House Correspondents' dinner for the first time while in office.
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