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.
In a statement, Trump said he would speak at the dinner, adding: 'I don't know whether or not I will give the same rather nasty statements... but we will soon find out. In any event, it will be a ‘HOT’ ticket!'
Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA), announced the new date in an email to reporters. She said the event would be a more 'intimate gathering' with 'significantly enhanced safety measures and new access procedures'. Details on location, tickets and programming are to follow.
The WHCA decided to reschedule 'after thoughtful consideration and input from our members', Jiang said. She wrote: '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 suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted assassination of the president.
