Bill O'Reilly Vows to Confront Protesters at Trump's First White House Correspondents' Dinner

Conservative commentator Bill O'Reilly issued a stern warning to anyone planning to disrupt the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner, vowing to confront protesters directly.

O'Reilly revealed his plans during a Wednesday episode of No Spin News, stating he decided to attend only after President Donald Trump confirmed his attendance—the first time Trump will participate in the event during his presidency.

“First time in his five years in office that Donald Trump is attending. And that’s why I’m going to be there. Not because of the president, but because if anybody misbehaves, they’re going to have to answer me. And I mean that.”

He added, “I’m going to have their names and every place else on Monday up here. And if they get out of control, which I can’t imagine because the Secret Service will be all over the place, I’ll confront them right in the room. Because, you have to respect the office of the presidency.”

CNN’s Jake Tapper to Wear First Amendment Protest Accessory

O'Reilly’s warning came two days after CNN’s Jake Tapper announced on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert that he would wear a First Amendment-themed pocket square to the dinner as a protest against the Trump administration’s stance on free speech.

The pocket square, which Tapper gifted to Colbert, bore the text: “Congress Shall Make No Law Abridging The Freedom of Speech or of the Press.”

Tapper explained to Colbert on Monday that he and other reporters planned to wear similar accessories provided by the Reporters Committee for the Free Press.

“There are a bunch of us that are gonna be wearing these. These are from the Reporters Committee for the Free Press. And, cause there might be some guests there that are unfamiliar with [the First Amendment].”

Key Details About the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner

• First Trump Attendance: The 2026 WHCD marks the first time President Donald Trump will attend the event during his five years in office.
• Non-Comedian Host: The dinner will be hosted by mentalist Oz Pearlman, breaking tradition as it will not feature a comedian for the first time.
• Broadcast Details: The event will air on C-SPAN on Saturday, April 25, at 8 p.m. ET.