President Donald Trump is set to attend tonight’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner for the first time during his presidency. The annual event takes place at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C.
Hosted by mentalist Oz Pearlman, the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is an annual black-tie gathering hosted by the White House Correspondents’ Association. It brings together journalists, lawmakers, administration officials, and celebrities to celebrate the First Amendment and recognize excellence in journalism. The event also raises funds for scholarships supporting the next generation of reporters.
During his first term as president, Trump skipped the dinner each year. He instead held counter-programming events such as political rallies. This attendance marks the first time he has participated in the dinner while serving as president.
The program begins with red carpet arrivals coverage in the early evening, followed by the main dinner at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
C-SPAN will provide live, commercial-free coverage of the event, starting with red carpet arrivals at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. The main program airs at 8 p.m. ET on C-SPAN television, C-SPAN Radio, C-SPAN.org, the C-SPAN Now app, and C-SPAN’s YouTube channel.
Additional coverage is set to air on CNN and MS NOW beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. These channels are available through cable providers or live TV streaming services such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and others depending on your subscription.
USA TODAY and other outlets will also livestream portions of the event on their platforms, including YouTube.
Mentalist Oz Pearlman is hosting this year’s dinner. Known for his mind-reading and interactive performances, Pearlman brings a different style to the event, which has traditionally featured comedians.
Attendees can expect presidential remarks, award presentations, and scholarship recognitions during the program. The evening combines formal elements with entertainment from the host’s signature mentalist act in an interactive format.
