US President Donald Trump attends the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner
US President Donald Trump on Friday attended the postponed White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, nearly three months after the annual event was postponed following a shooting outside the original venue.The US President is scheduled to address journalists from major news organizations after months of clashes with the media over coverage and access to the press.Before the event, White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said Trump’s remarks would be “a combination of unifying but evil, dangerous and funny, all at the same time.”The annual dinner, which celebrates press freedom and raises money for journalism grants, was postponed from April after a gunman tried to breach a security checkpoint and opened fire outside a conference room at the Washington Hilton hotel, where Trump and members of his Cabinet were present.Friday’s ceremony is now being held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel under tight security measures.Meanwhile, the shooting suspect, Cole Allen, later pleaded not guilty to charges including the attempted assassination of the president.The White House Correspondents’ Association said the program will include a tribute to Secret Service Officer Victor Gonzalez, who was injured while stopping the attacker, as well as Washington Hilton employees who assisted guests during the incident.
Trump’s appearance comes amid ongoing criticism from press freedom advocates over lawsuits filed by his administration against media organizations, restrictions on the access of some journalists and other measures affecting journalism. The White House defended these measures, saying they were intended to improve accountability, protect sensitive information, and address media bias.
