The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) announced Tuesday that they have rescheduled their annual dinner for this summer after their April 25 affair had to be canceled when an unhinged – and armed – leftist stormed the venue as the event was beginning, allegedly hoping to assassinate President Trump. Trump, who was attending the "nerd prom" for the first time as president, was accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and several Cabinet members and their spouses.
WHCA president Weijia Jiang, who is also a White House correspondent for CBS News, confirmed that the second go 'round for the White House Correspondents' Dinner would be held July 24, noting that the "first dinner" was now part of history. So, she wrote on X, would be WHCD's response, which was to carry on with the event, something that was especially important during the 250th anniversary of the country's founding.
I’m proud to share the WHCD will be held on 07/24. Our first dinner is part of history, as will be the WHCA’s response. We will not allow an act of violence to have the last word, especially during a year when we are reflecting on America 250 and everything we stand for.
— Weijia Jiang (@weijia) June 2, 2026
Jiang wrote in a Tuesday email to her colleagues in the correspondents association, “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. 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.”
SEE ALSO: Correspondents’ Dinner Attack: Suspect Cole Tomas Allen Enters His Plea
‘Premeditated’: Pirro Says Evidence in WHCD Shooting Now Tells a Much Darker Story
She noted that, despite President Trump wanting to return to the Washington Hilton the night of April 25 so the dinner could continue – something the Secret Service ultimately put the kibosh on – rescheduling the event was not a sure thing and occurred only after weeks of deliberation. Confident there were proper security procedures in place, a new date was picked, although Jiang did not confirm the venue site for the "more intimate gathering."
Following the announcement, President Trump took to Truth Social to confirm that he would be attending and speaking at the rescheduled dinner. He revealed that it would be taking place at the Waldorf Astoria, which is located in the Old Post Office Pavilion, is just a stone's throw from the White House, and previously housed the Trump International Hotel Washington DC.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 2, 2026
"In a sign of Strength and Fortitude, it was just announced that The White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which violently ended rather abruptly on April 25th, will be rescheduled to July 24th," Trump wrote. "This announcement is a very good thing in that we cannot allow Lunatics to change our way of life, or even its scheduling."
One police officer was shot by Cole Tomas Allen, 32, after Allen stormed the metal detectors at the Washington Hilton while the first dinner was getting underway. Allen has pleaded not guilty to attempting to assassinate the president; his next scheduled court date is June 29.
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