The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is scheduled to be reinstated next month, White House Correspondents’ Association President and CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Weijia Jiang told members Tuesday, with security “significantly enhanced” after the April dinner was interrupted when a gunman entered the Washington Hilton, forcing the event to be evacuated.
The dinner will be held July 24, and the location and programming have not yet been determined, though Gianz said the event will be more “intimate” than a traditional dinner, which hosts thousands of guests.
“The rescheduling was not automatic. It was a choice made by the WHCA Board of Directors after thoughtful consideration and input from our members,” Jiang told members in her memo. “I would like to thank the Board Members for the time and attention they have given to this decision, especially on the security front. The event will include significantly enhanced safety measures and new access procedures. We will share additional details directly with attendees.”
The event, which was held on April 25, was halted shortly after its start when a gunman fired shots while trying to breach security and attack Trump administration officials.
The alleged shooter, Cole Thomas Allen, 31, has been charged with the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.
In one message shared on his Truth Social platform after the event was cancelled, in which the president noted that First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and all members of the Cabinet were fine, he stated that the dinner would be rescheduled.
“We will not allow anyone to control our community,” he said of the dinner during the press conference after the incident, echoing his initial post at Truth Social. “We’re not going to cancel things.”
“I have spoken with all representatives responsible for the event, and we will reschedule the event within 30 days,” Trump wrote in the post. Earlier in the evening, Trump, who had indicated his desire to continue the dinner that night, posted on stage: “I have recommended that we let the show go on but will be fully directed by law enforcement. They will make a decision soon. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned and we will, obviously, have to do it again.”
Throughout his presidency, Trump has had a combative relationship with the press and chose not to attend the WHCD conference, which serves as a banquet, fundraiser and roaster for the media and the current administration. Traditionally, a comedian graces the stage to deliver laughs, often leaving some politicians red in the face. Before the brief event in April, Trump said he planned to attend in honor of the country’s 250th anniversary.
The WHCA has booked psychologist Oz Perlman for its April dinner instead of the comedian.
He was scheduled to take the stage to deliver a long-awaited speech that is expected to last 40 minutes. Speculation mounted that he would deliver a major rebuke to the media as the event approached.
In his press conference on Saturday evening, Trump indicated that his initially planned comments would have been harsh.
“I was ready to really tear it up,” he said. “I’ll be really boring next time, but we’ll have a great event.”
It is unclear whether Trump will speak at the rescheduled event. But on Monday afternoon, a few days after the shooting, White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt confirmed to reporters that “the president plans to attend the event.”
Read Jiang’s note below.
Dear colleagues,
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been a celebration of the free press and the vital role of journalism in our democracy for more than a century. When the shooting interrupted this year’s event, it made clear WHCA’s mission to defend the freedoms protected by the First Amendment. We will not allow any act of violence to have the final say, especially during a year when we reflect on the 250th anniversary of America and all we stand for.
I’m proud to announce that we will be hosting another gala dinner held in Washington, D.C., on Friday, July 24th.
The rescheduling was not automatic. This was a choice made by the WHCA Board of Directors after thoughtful consideration and input from our members. I would like to thank the members of the Board of Directors for the time and care they took to make this decision, especially on the security front. The event will include significantly enhanced safety measures and new arrival procedures. We will share additional details directly with attendees.
Our thoughts remain with the officer who was injured and with everyone who suffered that evening. We are indebted to the US Secret Service, law enforcement and hotel staff who responded quickly to protect our guests and employees.
In the weeks following the final dinner, we raised funds to ensure that WHCA members who purchased tickets would not have to pay if they attended the second event, which would be a more intimate gathering. We will also provide financial support for our scholarship winners to return to Washington. They, along with journalism award winners, deserve recognition for their hard work and dedication to reporting.
This dinner will not only be an opportunity to implement our program. It would be a statement that violence has no place in American life and that a free press will not be intimidated into silence. As you all point out, courage and community can and should rise above this.
Details on venue, tickets and programs will follow soon.
sincerely,
Wijia
