The White House correspondents’ dinner, abruptly cancelled in April after a shooting, will now take place on 24 July, the organisers have announced. Donald Trump, who was evacuated from the event during the incident, confirmed he would attend and 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!” He suggested the venue would be the Waldorf Astoria, which his Trump Organization used to own, though security concerns may prevent a return to the Washington Hilton.
The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) president, Weijia Jiang, said in an email that details on location, tickets and programming would follow soon. She confirmed the event would have “significantly enhanced safety measures” and be a more “intimate gathering” than the usual mass affair.
Jiang added: “When gunfire interrupted this year’s event, it further clarified the WHCA’s mission to advocate for the freedoms 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.”
The suspected shooter, Cole Tomas Allen, has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted assassination of the president, assault on a federal officer and firearms offences.
