Donald Trump: "It’s not like, ‘Oh, gee, hey Don, let’s have dinner some night.’"

At a rescheduled White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington on Friday evening, President Donald Trump directed personal attacks toward several prominent LGBTQIA+ individuals, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon. Trump repeated an insult he had previously used about Lemon's intelligence and television ratings, implying the remark permanently damaged any chance of a cordial relationship—unlike simply proposing a dinner invitation. The event, originally postponed due to a security incident in April, drew roughly 700 guests and was intended to recognize journalism. Trump also targeted CNN's Anderson Cooper and actor Dylan Mulvaney, referencing Mulvaney's past Bud Light partnership and its financial fallout. The speech contrasted with the dinner's stated purpose of awarding scholarships.