President Donald Trump is poised to make a dramatic return to the White House Correspondents' Dinner later this month, ending a decade-long boycott of the prestigious Washington, D.C. press gala. However, his attendance could be overshadowed by an awkward moment, as The Wall Street Journal is scheduled to receive a major award for its reporting on a controversial story involving Trump and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump Ends Boycott Amid Controversial Award Announcement
Trump announced his unexpected decision to attend the April 25 event via a Truth Social post in March, declaring it would be "my Honor to accept their invitation" after years of shunning the annual gathering. The former president claimed press corps members now acknowledge him as "truly one of the Greatest Presidents in the History of our Country."
His return coincides with the White House Correspondents' Association announcing that the WSJ will receive the Katharine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability. The award recognizes the newspaper's July 2025 investigation into Trump allegedly sending a "bawdy" birthday card doodle to Epstein.
Legal Battle Dismissed as Evidence Emerges
The award announcement came on the same day that a federal judge dismissed Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the newspaper over the exact story. Florida District Judge Darrin P. Gayles ruled that Trump had failed to prove the WSJ acted with "actual malice" in publishing its report.
Despite Trump's repeated denials of authorship and insistence the drawing didn't exist, the House Oversight Committee subsequently acquired a copy of a sketch closely matching the WSJ's description from the Epstein estate. The card reportedly read "May every day be another wonderful secret" and bore what appeared to be Trump's signature beneath an outline of a naked woman's torso.
Historical Context and Presidential Presence
Trump has not attended the Correspondents' Dinner since 2015, with many attributing his boycott to a particularly brutal roast by President Barack Obama at the 2011 event. That experience is said to have motivated his initial run for the presidency.
While presidents don't technically present awards at the dinner, they historically have been present during award ceremonies and have shaken hands with recipients. Puck senior correspondent Dylan Byers noted on social media that "Trump's plans, as always, are TBD" regarding his specific role in the proceedings.
Epstein Scandal Unexpectedly Revived
The Epstein affair had largely faded from headlines in recent weeks due to international developments, but was unexpectedly revived when First Lady Melania Trump delivered a surprise press conference last week. She denied "lies" linking her to Epstein, stating they had only "crossed paths" at social events in New York and Palm Beach decades ago.
President Trump later told reporters he hadn't known in advance that Epstein would be the subject of his wife's address, but affirmed her right to speak her mind. The first lady called for a congressional investigation into Epstein for the sake of his victims during her remarks.
Trump has never been formally accused of wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, who died in August 2019, but has faced repeated questions about their past friendship. The former president was mentioned numerous times in Epstein files released by the Department of Justice, though such mentions don't constitute evidence of guilt.
The Katharine Graham Award specifically recognizes coverage of "subjects and events of significant national or regional importance," making the WSJ's Epstein reporting a particularly notable recipient as Trump returns to an event he has avoided for ten years.
