The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) Dinner will take place on Friday at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C., after being rescheduled following a previous security incident.
According to WHCA President Weijia Jiang, the decision to reschedule was made after careful consideration and input from members. Jiang expressed gratitude to the board members for their time and care in making this decision, particularly in regards to enhanced safety measures. The event will feature significantly improved security protocols and new access procedures.
The incident that led to the rescheduling occurred earlier this year, when a gunman stormed the lobby of the Washington Hilton. Jiang also expressed appreciation for the swift response of the US Secret Service, law enforcement, and hotel staff, who protected guests and staff during the incident.
President Trump will be attending the dinner, where he will be honored by Victor Gonzales, the Secret Service agent who stopped the WHCD shooter in April. Gonzales will receive the President's Award for Exceptional Service on Friday evening.
Trump's speech at the dinner is expected to be "unifying yet vicious," according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The dinner comes as Cole Allen, the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Trump at the WHCD, faces a grand jury indictment on four counts, including attempting to assassinate the president, transporting a firearm with intent to commit a felony, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon.
The Justice Department previously released high-resolution video of the incident, showing Allen sprinting past a Secret Service checkpoint and opening fire in the lobby of the Washington Hilton. Allen's next hearing is scheduled for August 20, 2026.
