Trump's Shocking '2028 Run' Tease at White House Dinner: What Did He Reveal?

Donald Trump joked that he'll run for president again as he unveils a "Trump 2028" hat at White House Correspondents' Dinner. The annual dinner finally took place on Friday (July 24), three months after it was suspended following an alleged attempted assassination on the president. The 80-year-old delivered an hour-long speech at the event, which was held under tight security at Washington's Waldorf Astoria hotel, that mixed calls for unity with jokes. The president wore a Trump 2028 hat at the WHCD. Credit: Eric Lee / Getty Towards the end of his speech, Trump teased the audience with what he called a big announcement. "That's why tonight, to show just how much I care about the press and, I want to save your ratings," he said. "I'm pleased to announce my intention to, and this is somewhat of a scoop, my intention to run for a fourth term as president of the United States." Trump has joked several times about serving another term, but the US Constitution does not allow a president to serve more than two elected terms. One joke gets no laughs Not every joke landed with the audience. While talking about term limits for members of Congress, Trump shared a story about an elderly senator who received a text from his wife saying: "When you get home, I want you to immediately come up the stairs and make love to me." The senator's reply was: "I can't do both." The room stayed silent. Trump then explained the joke himself: "Can't get up on the stairs and make love," he said while pulling a face. "Does anybody get that?" Laughing at the awkward moment, he added: "That was the only thing I thought was good in this whole frickin' stupid speech they wrote. That was the only good one and that went down with not exactly great laughter." Trump praised the White House press corps for their work but also criticized some reporters by name. Credit: Eric Lee / Getty Images Trump speaks about April attack The president also reflected on the shooting that forced organizers to postpone the original dinner in April. "As I said three months ago, the show must go on," he said . "Tonight we come back together to answer that heinous attack with unwavering resolve," adding that "in America we do not yield to political violence." Later in the speech, he reiterated that message. "We do not yield to political violence... No deranged loser with a gun will ever change that," per Sky News . Trump also admitted that his original speech had been much harsher. "I was so psyched. I was going to rip people, and I don't know. Just something changed," he said. "It's really for the better, but I just wouldn't want to do that. But we'll do a little ripping if you don't mind." Although he slammed what he often calls the "fake news media," he also commended the journalists in the room. "I have tremendous respect for the people in this room," he said, before adding: "Sometimes I don't feel you treat me fair. "Maybe you do. I don't know. I don't feel that, but sometimes you treat me very fairly, and I have a lot of respect for your profession." He also thanked guests for returning after the events of April: "Most of us went through a period of trauma from just a short while ago, and you know, some people said they wanted to come, but they were afraid to come, and you people weren't afraid to come." The suspect in the shooting was identified as 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen. Credit: Anadolu / Getty After the April attack, the dinner was moved from the Washington Hilton to the Waldorf Astoria and held under increased security. Outgoing White House Correspondents' Association president Weijia Jiang of CBS News opened the event by saying: "Tonight, our message is this: We are back. We will not be intimidated...We refuse to let an act of violence have the final word." Featured image credit: Eric Lee / Getty