Donald Trump attended the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, where an opening video stressed press freedom and warned against government control of the media. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was seen speaking quietly to him during the segment, which also included footage of Trump criticising the press. The moment highlighted the continuing tension between Trump’s administration and journalists.

The event was held three months after the original dinner was halted by a shooting outside the venue, and was scaled down to about 700 guests with heightened security. The Wall Street Journal received an award for reporting on Jeffrey Epstein, including an alleged letter from Trump, which he has denied writing; Trump nevertheless congratulated its reporters. In his speech, Trump condemned political violence but also criticised members of the media and repeated familiar complaints about coverage of his administration.