A new dispute has erupted between President Donald Trump and one of America’s most influential news organizations following this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
After the event, New York Times chief White House correspondent Peter Baker publicly questioned whether the annual dinner should continue, arguing that the evening failed to advance the mission of protecting press freedom.
Baker, who has covered multiple presidential administrations, shared his concerns on X the morning after the event.
Baker said he has been a member of the White House Correspondents’ Association for much of the time since the 1990s and argued that its purpose is to protect reporters’ First Amendment rights to cover the president independently. In his view, the latest dinner failed to support that mission, and he suggested the organization should reconsider the future of the event.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner has long featured presidents delivering humorous speeches that poke fun at politicians, reporters, and even themselves. Trump, who skipped the dinner throughout his first term, returned this year and embraced that tradition with a speech aimed largely at the national media.
Earlier in the evening, the White House Correspondents’ Association honored journalists for reporting that often challenged the Trump administration. The president congratulated several award winners before taking the stage and delivering his own remarks.
During his speech, Trump criticized major media organizations, joked about declining television ratings, and suggested some outlets could struggle to maintain their audiences after he leaves office. Several of his comments quickly drew attention online and fueled another round of debate over the relationship between the White House and the press.
Baker’s criticism was echoed by his wife, journalist Susan Glasser, who also weighed in on social media.
“If journalists won’t stand up for it, hard to ask everyone else to.”
The exchange reflects a broader divide within the news industry over how journalists should cover Trump’s second term. While some reporters argue the media should take a more aggressive approach, others believe news organizations should focus on more traditional, objective reporting.
As criticism of his comments spread, Baker clarified that his opposition to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner predates Trump’s presidency.
According to Baker, The New York Times decided nearly 20 years ago that the newspaper would no longer attend the annual dinner as an organization, regardless of which party controlled the White House. The primary exception has been when Times reporters attend to receive journalism awards.
“Last night validated that decision,” Baker wrote.
Ironically, Baker himself received the White House Correspondents’ Association’s Excellence in Presidential News Coverage Under Deadline Pressure award in 2024 for his reporting on former President Joe Biden’s trip to Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack.
The latest disagreement highlights the continuing friction between President Trump and many of the nation’s largest media organizations. That relationship has remained one of the defining political stories of his presidency, with disputes over media coverage, press access, and First Amendment issues continuing to generate headlines.
As Trump’s second term moves forward, the ongoing battle between the White House and the mainstream press shows little sign of cooling down.
