President Donald Trump is set to attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 25, breaking a decade-long boycott, but the event may prove awkward as The Wall Street Journal will receive an award for its reporting on a letter he allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump announced his attendance on Truth Social in March, claiming the press now recognises him as "one of the Greatest Presidents." However, the White House Correspondents' Association announced that the WSJ will receive the Katharine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability for its July 2025 story about a "bawdy" birthday card doodle Trump allegedly sent to Epstein.
The announcement coincided with a federal judge dismissing Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the WSJ over the story. Judge Darrin P Gayles ruled that Trump failed to prove "actual malice," stating he came "nowhere close to this standard."
The card, which featured a sketch of a naked woman's torso and appeared to bear Trump's signature, was part of a birthday album compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell. The House Oversight Committee later obtained a copy from the Epstein estate.
While Trump is not expected to present the award, past presidents have been present for such ceremonies. The situation has been further complicated by First Lady Melania Trump's surprise press conference on Thursday, where she denied links to Epstein and called for a congressional investigation.
