Trump Attends Rescheduled White House Correspondents Dinner, Mocks Critics

President Donald Trump attended the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) Dinner on Friday night at Washington's Waldorf Astoria hotel, completing the event that was violently interrupted in April. Trump used the occasion to mock political opponents and members of the press, drawing both laughter and condemnation from attendees.

The April Shooting That Stopped the Show

The original dinner on April 25 at the Washington Hilton ended in chaos when authorities say Cole Allen opened fire inside the hotel, where thousands of journalists and government officials — including the president — had gathered for the annual First Amendment celebration. A Secret Service officer, Victor Gonzales, was struck by a bullet that hit his protective vest; he continued responding to the threat. Allen pleaded not guilty in May to charges including attempting to assassinate the president.

A New Venue, a Special Honor

Friday's dinner moved to the Waldorf Astoria on Pennsylvania Avenue. The WHCA presented its President's Award for Exceptional Service to Officer Gonzales and the staff of the Washington Hilton, recognizing their actions during the April shooting. “Officer Gonzales played a significant role when he ran toward danger so that thousands of others could make it home safely,” said Weijia Jiang, who presided over the April dinner as WHCA president.

The scheduled entertainment — mentalist Oz Pearlman, who was booked for the original dinner — returned for Friday's event. The journalism awards that had been interrupted in April were also presented. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had framed the evening defiantly: “The president looks forward to finishing what he started before a despicable assassination attempt derailed the original event.”