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White House Correspondents' Dinner Rescheduled After Security Incident; President Trump to Attend

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WHCA Dinner Rescheduled After Security Incident, Set for July 24

Event Timeline and Security Incident

The original dinner was held on the evening of April 25, 2026, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. During the event, law enforcement stopped an armed individual outside the venue. Subsequent noise from the incident led the U.S. Secret Service to evacuate President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and other officials to a secure location.

According to reports, the individual, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, breached security, shot a Secret Service officer, and allegedly attempted to assassinate President Trump. The officer survived, and Allen was captured.

"The suspect was apprehended," President Trump posted on social media, praising law enforcement. He later held a press conference from the White House Press Briefing Room and stated the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days.

Rescheduled Dinner Details

The WHCA announced the dinner would reconvene on July 24, 2026.

  • Date and Time: Friday, July 24, 2026; doors open at 6:00 p.m. local time (22:00 GMT), dinner at 7:00 p.m. (23:00 GMT).
  • Venue: Waldorf Astoria, Washington, D.C. (formerly the Trump International Hotel). This replaces the Washington Hilton.
  • Security: Single entrance with magnetometers, coordination between private security and the Secret Service. All other entrances will be sealed. Attendees have been warned of delays.
  • Capacity: Approximately 1,000 attendees, down from 2,500 at the Hilton.
  • Ticket Price: $480 per ticket. Proceeds fund journalism awards and scholarships.
  • Entertainment: Mentalist Oz Pearlman, who was originally scheduled to perform in April, will perform.
  • President’s Remarks: President Trump is scheduled to give remarks. WHCA President Weijia Jiang will also speak about the First Amendment. The annual WHCA awards will be presented after the president's speech, a change from previous years.

The WHCA board chose Pearlman as the entertainer partly to avoid potential political backlash from a comedian's jokes about President Trump. Pearlman was booked before the president confirmed his attendance.

Background and Context

The WHCA was founded in 1914 by White House reporters to ensure press access to the president. The dinner tradition began in 1921, serving as a forum for interaction between politicians and journalists. Presidents have historically attended and spoken at the event.

Criticism of the Dinner

The dinner has historically drawn criticism from some journalists and ethicists who argue that socializing between journalists and politicians creates a conflict of interest. The New York Times stopped attending the event over a decade ago. In 2026, nearly 500 retired journalists signed a petition urging the WHCA to demonstrate opposition to President Trump's press policies.

Trump Administration and Press Relations

The event occurs against a backdrop of ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the press. In February 2025, the Trump administration announced it would no longer recognize the WHCA's role in managing the White House press pool.

Former WHCA president Eugene Daniels stated that the change "tears at the independence of a free press in the United States" and "suggests the government will choose the journalists who cover the president."

The administration has also been involved in lawsuits against news outlets, funding cuts to public broadcasters, and legal actions against journalists. In July 2026, the Department of Justice subpoenaed New York Times journalists regarding an article on Air Force One.

WHCA Position

WHCA President Weijia Jiang stated the association "will not allow an act of violence to have the last word" and that the dinner reinforces the importance of the First Amendment and the free press. Many reporters view the event as an opportunity to build professional connections with government officials.

Notable Invitations

The Associated Press invited Taylor Budowich, a former White House deputy chief of staff, despite the AP's ongoing lawsuit against the administration over press access. AP spokesman Patrick Maks said the invitation reflects the organization's nonpartisan approach.

Alternative Events

Some journalists and media figures have chosen to skip the WHCA dinner. Alternative events include a Substack party and various receptions. The Committee to Protect Journalists' president urged attendees to support press freedom globally.

Open Letter

An open letter from groups including the Society of Professional Journalists urged the WHCA to address what they described as President Trump's "systematic assault on freedom of the press."

Awards

The WHCA will award prizes for exemplary reporting, including stories critical of President Trump, such as a Wall Street Journal article about the president's message to Jeffrey Epstein (which led to a lawsuit from the president).