The White House correspondents' dinner, abruptly cancelled in April after a shooting, has been rescheduled for 24 July. President Donald Trump, who was evacuated from the event, has confirmed his attendance and plans to speak.
In a statement, Trump said: 'I don't know whether or not I will give the same rather nasty statements, at least as it concerns certain people, but we will soon find out. In any event, it will be a 'HOT' ticket!' The venue is yet to be confirmed; Trump suggested the Waldorf Astoria, while security concerns may preclude the Washington Hilton.
Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents' Association, announced the rescheduled dinner will be an 'intimate gathering' with 'significantly enhanced safety measures'. She said: '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.'
The suspected shooter, Cole Tomas Allen, has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted assassination of the president.
