Donald Trump teased members of the press that he would seek another term as President as he addressed the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner on Friday.
The annual dinner had originally been been due to take place in April but was postponed after a gunman attempted to storm the venue.
The suspected attacker, Cole Thomas Allen, has been charged with attempting to assassinate the President and is awaiting trial.
Opening his speech, Mr Trump reflected on the dramatic events that forced the cancellation.
"As I said three months ago, the show must go on," he told the audience.
"We were backstage and we both wanted to just have it go on. Whether it was 2:00, 3:00 in the morning, it didn't matter. But in the end it made more sense to do it the way we're doing it."
He described the evening as one that "won't soon be forgotten", adding that "a lot was learned" from the attack.
"Tonight we come back together to answer that heinous attack with unwavering resolve ... to show that in America we do not yield to political violence," he said.
But Mr Trump also found plenty of time for humour.
'Tonight we come back together to answer that heinous attack with unwavering resolve,' the President declared
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"After hearing the gunshots, many people yelled, 'Get down! Get down!' which caused Nicki Minaj to start twerking, do you believe that?" he joked.
"Everyone's looking really good tonight, and I know it was not easy finding shoes to go along with your bulletproof vest, which many people didn't want to wear because they'd rather die than look 20 pounds heavier."
The President then turned to his political future, quipping: "But just like my presidency, the second time is always better. It's always better, and the third time will be better yet."
Later, he continued the gag, telling reporters: "I want to save your ratings."
"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."
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The President donned a 'Trump 2028' hat as he joked about running for another term
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The President then put on a red "Trump 2028" cap before quipping: "It should be easy. I'm getting very good at running for President now."
Mr Trump also took aim at reporters, lawmakers and even his own speechwriter during the address.
Before delivering his remarks, he handed out awards and scholarships to journalists.
At one point, he presented an award to a team of Wall Street Journal reporters who had written about his past links to Jeffrey Epstein.
He appeared to take the moment in good spirits, throwing his hands into the air before shaking the reporters' hands.
"This has not been an easy evening, all those awards. Do I have a say?" he joked.
After wrapping up his one hour and four minute-long speech, Mr Trump was seen tossing his 'Trump 2028' hat into the crowd
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Mr Trump's political opponents were not spared either, with the President taking aim at former President Joe Biden, New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and 2028 presidential hopeful Gavin Newsom.
He also mocked members of his own administration, telling guests the beef tenderloin was "very special" because "Bobby Kennedy ... personally ran over the cow in his car".
"And he cut it up and he brought it here for you to eat tonight, so it's very fresh," Mr Trump continued.
"Bobby also suggested an appetizer featuring his favorite cut of male raccoon roadkill, but we drew the line at that."
The President's appearance marked his first at the annual event after snubbing it throughout his first term in office.
He described it as an "honour" to attend, adding that he would return next year unless the journalists present "get really, really nasty", he quipped.
After wrapping up his one hour and four minute-long speech, he walked off to Lee Greenwood's God Bless the U.S.A and was seen tossing his "Trump 2028" hat into the crowd.