Trump takes swipes at press during White House Correspondents' Dinner

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Watch: 'The show must go on' says Trump at second White House correspondents dinner

US President Donald Trump has poked fun at the media at the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner, a night that celebrated press freedom after the first event was cancelled by a shooting three months ago.

The president sat as reporters from outlets he has sparred with and even sued, including the New York Times, CNN and the Wall Street Journal, came up to be honoured with awards.

The outgoing WHCA head said she would "refuse to let an act of violence have the final word", referring to the gunman tackled at the first dinner in April.

But the tone shifted as Trump aimed barbs at the "fake news" and accused many journalists in the room of having "Trump Derangement Syndrome".

In her remarks, WHCA President Weijia Jiang of CBS News said the event would return to the scene of the April shooting, the Washington Hilton, next year.

The officer shot at the scene, officer Victor Gonzalez of the US Secretary Service, was given an award by Trump for his actions on the night of the shooting .

Trump stood and shook hands with award winners, including a Wall Street Journal team who was given an award for coverage of Trump's links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein .

Ahead of the event, many in the White House press corps theorised that Trump - who often criticises many of the reporters seated just metres away in the room - would deliver a stern rebuke of the media.

Image source, Reuters Image caption, Trump laughs at the dinner, alongside WHCA President Weijia Jiang

In his remarks, Trump was at times cordial and conciliatory, saying "the second time is always better", joking and praising the media - saying he respects "most of them".

"As I said three months ago, the show must go on," Trump said.

The US president also called on Americans to respect freedom of speech.

"We settle our differences not with bullets, but with open and vigorous debate," Trump said. "And no deranged loser with a gun will ever change that. We can't let that ever happen."