White House press dinner rescheduled for July 24 after April shooting
The White House Correspondents' Association announced Tuesday that its annual dinner, interrupted by an assassination attempt on President Donald Trump in April, will be held again on July 24 with significantly enhanced security.
April disruption
The annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner was halted on April 25 when a gunman tried to enter the Washington Hilton. President Trump was evacuated. Cole Thomas Allen, a 31-year-old teacher from California, was later charged with attempting to assassinate the president. That same day, Trump pledged to reschedule the event within 30 days.
New date, tighter security
WHCA president Weijia Jiang announced that the rescheduled dinner will take place on Friday, July 24, in Washington. A venue and other details have not yet been announced. Jiang said the event will be “more intimate” and will feature “significantly enhanced safety measures and new access procedures.”
Rescheduling was not automatic. It was a choice that the WHCA board made after thoughtful consideration and input from our members.
- Dinner interrupted; Trump evacuated, later pledges to reschedule.
- WHCA announces rescheduled dinner for July 24 with enhanced security.
- Rescheduled dinner to be held.
First Amendment message
Jiang framed the decision as a defense of press freedom, saying the dinner “will be a statement that violence has no place in American life and a free press will not be intimidated into silence.” She also noted that this year marks the 250th anniversary of the United States.
When gunfire interrupted this year's event, it further clarified the WHCA's mission to advocate for the freedoms that are protected in the First Amendment.
Trump attendance unclear
Trump had attended the original dinner for the first time as president. The WHCA gave no indication whether he would return, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
