He Started Strong… Then Everything Changed! CNN’s Scott Jennings Delivers Blunt Verdict on the U.S. President’s Controversial White House Correspondents’ Dinner Speech! A White House Correspondents’ Dinner speech is sparking intense political debate after CNN commentator Scott Jennings shared his candid reaction. While he praised the U.S. President’s opening and closing remarks, Jennings argued that the middle portion became far more controversial, singling out one joke that quickly drew attention. His comments have fueled fresh discussion over whether the speech struck the right balance between humor and controversy, with viewers sharply divided over the night’s most talked-about moments.

CNN‘s Scott Jennings issued a blunt response to President Donald Trump‘s “controversial” White House Correspondents’ Dinner speech.

On Friday, July 24, the POTUS, 80, spoke at the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) Dinner, which was rescheduled from April following an assassination attempt. Jennings, a conservative political commentator, praised Trump for how he began and ended the hour-long speech.

“He started the speech with something that I thought was good and necessary. We do not yield to political violence,” Jennings pointed out, per Mediaite. “I thought that was probably the best line of the speech, given the nature of the event tonight. And he ended the speech by saying, I have great respect for your profession.”

However, the political pundit conceded, “Now the middle of it is going to be controversial because some of the jokes landed and some of the jokes didn’t.”

At the WHCD, Trump notably blasted CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, labeling the award she received as “fake” and comparing her to trans social media influencer and actress Dylan Mulvaney. His remarks prompted responses from both Collins and Mulvaney.

Although the pro-Trump pundit acknowledged that some of Trump’s jokes “veered off into very, sort of ornery insults” and weren’t going to “land for many audiences,” Jennings also shared his favorite part of the WHCA dinner speech.

“I thought the best joke was the RFK joke,” he revealed. “You know, I hope you enjoyed the beef. He ran over the cow that I think, that was probably the best joke.”

During the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. part, the POTUS quipped, “I hope that everyone finally got to enjoy their entire very delicious beef tenderloin. Very special beef. And I want you all to know that Bobby Kennedy is 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.”