US President Donald Trump told journalists at the White House Correspondents' Dinner that he had "given up" on traditional press organisations in favor of social media, predicting that mainstream outlets would struggle for audiences once he leaves office. Addressing hundreds of reporters and media executives, Trump blended sharp criticism of conventional news coverage with praise for his direct engagement through digital platforms, declaring himself "number one on TikTok" and claiming that his social media approach had proven more effective than relying on traditional media coverage.

Trump argued that news organizations have become heavily dependent on him for readership and television ratings, warning the assembled press that they would face financial hardship once he is no longer in office. He suggested that public interest in news coverage would decline significantly in his absence, framing his presence as central to the industry's current relevance. Despite the pointed remarks, he also offered a more personal account of his relationship with the press, describing how he had once complained that journalists had stopped reaching out to him after his return to the White House — a situation he said he addressed by personally sharing his mobile phone number, a decision he jokingly called one of the worst he had ever made, given how frequently reporters now contact him.

Trump said he now regularly speaks directly with journalists, arguing that doing so improves the accuracy of news coverage compared to staying silent, which he said tends to produce less favorable stories. He encouraged reporters to identify themselves clearly when calling, saying it made him more willing to engage. Despite his repeated criticism of media organizations throughout the speech, Trump maintained that he supports press freedom, describing himself as believing in a free press "more than anyone in this room," while also injecting a note of self-deprecating humor by questioning that claim moments later.

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The president further described himself as the most transparent occupant of the office in history, drawing a contrast with former President Joe Biden, whom he accused of rarely engaging directly with reporters' questions during his term. Throughout his remarks, Trump alternated between critical and complimentary tones toward the press corps, acknowledging that while he often felt coverage of him was unfair, he held genuine respect for journalists and their profession. He also referenced receiving what he described as overwhelmingly negative press coverage, while lightheartedly acknowledging several television personalities and journalists in attendance, including CNN's Caitlin Collins, whom he congratulated on a recent journalism award.

The event's tone shifted briefly before Trump's remarks, when outgoing White House Correspondents' Association President Weijia Jiang used her closing address to defend the constitutional protections afforded to the press. While acknowledging that criticism of media coverage is a legitimate part of public discourse, she cautioned that efforts to undermine press freedom pose a broader threat to the constitutional foundations underpinning American democracy — remarks that set the stage for Trump's own extended commentary on his relationship with the media that followed.

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