ABC News Live Prime: Friday, July 24, 2026

Trump Addresses Correspondents' Dinner [00:03]

• President Trump spoke at the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner, held three months after a security breach.
• The event took place at the Waldorf Astoria, a different venue than the original location.
• Trump joked about running for a fourth term and wore a "Trump 2028" hat.

  "But I am delighted to be here at the White House correspondents dinner."

Relationship with the Press [00:34]

• The president acknowledged his often adversarial relationship with the press.
• He stated he respects most journalists, despite some not covering him fairly.
• Trump emphasized the importance of a free press and the role of the press corps.

  "I must say that you do a great job. Amazing job."

Message Against Political Violence [01:30]

• The speech aimed to be both unifying and critical, balancing humor with serious topics.
• It touched on the importance of honoring the First Amendment and the press corps.
• The president stressed that political violence is unacceptable.

  "And that is the point that I think he really drove home tonight."

Guest Analysis of the Speech [01:12]

• Former assistant to President Trump, Sunonny Nelson, discussed the speech's tone.
• Nelson noted the president's humor, his jabs at political opponents, and the emphasis on the First Amendment.
• The speech was seen as a way to remind Americans of their values and what will not be tolerated.

  "So the president has, you know, very high respect for the press and he knows the value of the press."

Senator's Perspective on the Speech [04:34]

• Former Senator Heidi Heitkamp offered a critical view of the president's speech.
• She felt the speech was a "list of grievances" and "greatest hits" rather than a reset.
• Heitkamp suggested the president missed an opportunity to show a different side of himself.

  "He did not do that. And I I know you asked your previous guest whether um he had any we he chuckled out loud."

Discussion on Iran Deal [08:11]

• The conversation shifted to the ongoing efforts to secure a deal with Iran.
• Concerns were raised about the effectiveness of the current team working on the deal.
• The complexity of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons was highlighted, alongside pressures on oil prices.

  "But nobody nobody should disagree that we need a uh that we need to stop Iran from ever getting a nuclear weapon."

Wildfires in Europe [09:26]

• Wildfires were spreading out of control in southern France and central Spain.
• Nearly 200,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes due to the fires.
• The fires were exacerbated by back-to-back heat waves, straining emergency services.

  "Tonight, Marcus Moore joins us now. And Marcus, unfortunately, summer fires have become rather common in Europe."

Middle East Tensions and Gas Prices [11:20]

• Tensions escalated in the Middle East, with President Trump meeting advisers after threatening attacks on Iran.
• The conflict was impacting domestic gas prices, which reached $4.10 per gallon.
• Iran claimed to have launched drones toward US targets, while US forces struck Iranian drone sites.

  "After pounding targets in Iran for 2 weeks, President Trump huddling with top advisers at the White House, weighing whether to ramp up the US military assaults."