The White House Correspondents’ Association is moving forward with a second attempt at their annual dinner following April’s violent interruption by a gunman who authorities say was attempting to kill President Donald Trump.
Association president Weijia Jiang announced the July 24 date for the rescheduled gathering, promising “significantly enhanced safety measures and new access procedures” for what she described as a “more intimate gathering.”
While Jiang didn’t reveal the location in her announcement, President Trump disclosed on his Truth Social platform that the event would take place at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, which previously housed the Trump International Hotel.
Trump confirmed his acceptance of an invitation to return and address the gathering, describing the decision to reschedule as “a sign of Strength and Fortitude.”
“This announcement is a very good thing in that we cannot allow Lunatics to change our way of life, or even its scheduling,” Trump posted.
The president remained undecided about delivering his original remarks, which many anticipated would target the press. “I don’t know whether or not I will give the same rather nasty statements, at least as it concerns certain people, but we will soon find out,” he wrote. “In any event, it will be a ‘HOT’ ticket!”
Jiang stressed that “rescheduling was not automatic” and required extensive deliberation among board members.
She highlighted the dinner’s core mission as “a celebration of a free press and the vital role of journalism in our democracy for over a century.”
“We will not allow an act of violence to have the last word, especially during a year when we are reflecting on the 250th anniversary of America and everything we stand for,” Jiang stated.
Details about the size and format of the July event remain unclear. The original gathering at the Washington Hilton drew nearly 3,000 attendees, but Jiang indicated the rescheduled version would be considerably smaller, with specifics to be communicated directly to participants.
Her comments aligned with recent discussions suggesting any rescheduled event would need to be scaled back due to both financial and security considerations.
Jiang also acknowledged the Secret Service officer wounded in April’s incident, who continues to recover. “Our thoughts remain with the officer who was injured and with everyone who experienced that evening,” she said. “We are indebted to the US Secret Service, law enforcement and the hotel staff whose swift response protected our guests and our staff.”
Despite Jiang’s consistent advocacy for rescheduling, the decision faced opposition from some quarters.
Critics argued the entire event should be permanently canceled, citing not only security risks but concerns about the appropriateness of journalists socializing formally with those they cover.
“It undermines the public faith in how the press does its work, and it makes it look like we are pals with the people we cover,” said Kelly McBride, an ethics expert at the Poynter Institute, a journalism think tank, in May.
