Trump takes shots at RFK Jr, Biden, CNN's Collins in WHCA dinner speech

President Trump took aim at the press, Democrats and some of his celebrity critics in a speech that received a lukewarm reception at the White House Correspondents' Association's (WHCA) dinner on Friday evening. Trump took the stage just months after a gunman allegedly attempted an attack on his life at the association's annual event in April. While the president began his remarks by commending the law enforcement officers who helped thwart this attempted assassination, he eventually turned to ridiculing individual reporters in the audience, taking aim at CNN's Kaitlan Collins and Jake Tapper, as well as The Wall Street Journal's Josh Dawsey. The president repeated his criticism that Collins 'never smiles.' 'She never smiles,' he said. 'I said, Kaitlin, do you ever smile? Smile. You have a nice position. You're at CNN fake news. You should be a happy person. So smile, Kaitlan. Just smile.' Earlier in the night, Trump shook the hands of the Journal reporting team who received an award for their coverage of an alleged birthday letter from the president to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump also directed his ire at Democratic leaders. He repeatedly insulted former President Biden: 'So, just remember, before I came along, if you wanted to see someone lose consciousness on the South Lawn of the White House, all you had to do is ask Joe Biden a question.' A joke about Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. got one of the louder laughs: 'I hope that everyone finally got to enjoy their entire very delicious beef tenderloins, very special beef, and I want you all to know that Bobby Kennedy, who's right here, personally ran over the cow in his car, and he cut it up and he brought it here for you to eat tonight, so it's very fresh.' The president appeared to express frustration that some of his jokes were not landing. After one joke fell flat, Trump asked the crowd, 'Does anybody get that?' 'Well, I thought that was actually pretty good,' he continued. 'That was actually the only thing I thought was good in this whole freaking stupid speech that they wrote.' Trump ended his speech donning a hat that said 'Trump 2028.' WHCA President Weijia Jiang stressed the importance of an independent, free press: 'There is a difference, though, an existential difference between criticizing the press and trying to undermine it. One is healthy, and it makes all of us better. The other is exactly what the founders hoped to prevent.' At the end, Trump said: 'I hope all of you know that I believe in the free press more than anyone in this room does,' adding, 'Maybe not quite.'