US President Donald Trump is set to speak at the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner on Friday, July 24, 2026, nearly three months after a shooting forced the cancellation of the original event at the Washington Hilton hotel.

The black-tie gathering of journalists, politicians, and administration officials was called off on April 25, 2026, when a man, Cole Allen, attempted to breach a security checkpoint and fired a shotgun outside the ballroom where Trump and his cabinet were seated. Allen pleaded not guilty in May to charges including attempting to assassinate the president.

Trump, who was wearing a protective vest and was the only person injured during the incident, has cited the shooting as justification for constructing a $400 million ballroom at the White House to enhance presidential security during such events. The rescheduled dinner will take place at the Waldorf Astoria hotel under heightened security measures.

Washington Hilton staff who assisted guests during the April incident will also be recognized at the event. WHCA President Weijia Jiang stated the dinner "will be a statement that violence has no place in American life and a free press will not be intimidated into silence."

This April incident marked Trump's first presidential appearance at the correspondents' dinner. Despite escalating tensions with the media, Trump has provided reporters with more direct access than recent presidents, including taking questions during open-ended public appearances and speaking regularly with journalists by phone.

Sources