Stephen Colbert reacts to Trumps plan to target the press at White House Correspondents Dinner

April 24, 2026

A man in a suit on a talk show stage stands gesturing with his arms wide.

It's almost time for the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which will be attended by Donald Trump himself for the first time in a decade. And apparently the president has a plan.

In the Late Show clip above, Stephen Colbert reacts to a Daily Beast report that says Trump intends to go after the press in his speech before leaving the event early.

"All you reporters are enemies of the people," says Colbert, in trademark Trump impression mode. "I hate you all. And if you call me, I will pick up every time."

Colbert goes on to comment on Trump's reported plan to leave before the awards themselves are handed out, dodging any awkwardness.

"I can understand why he's gonna dip, because one of these awards — and this is true — is going to The Wall Street Journal for its scoop about a certain birthday pube doodle for Jeffrey Epstein," says Colbert. "As well as another award for the photo-journalist who took this picture of that time a man had a medical emergency right there in the Oval Office and Trump just stood there like he was waiting for a bus. It's just so crazy that he didn't help, especially now that we know he is a doctor."

Elsewhere, Jimmy Kimmel decided to host an alternative, roast-filled version of the event.

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