President Donald Trump is set to attend the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Friday, three months after the original event was canceled due to a shooting. The gala was initially disrupted on April 25 when a man, identified as Cole Allen, attempted to breach a security checkpoint and fired a shotgun outside the ballroom where Trump and other officials were gathered. Allen pleaded not guilty in May to charges including attempting to assassinate the president. The rescheduled dinner, moved to the Waldorf Astoria hotel, will have significantly increased security measures overseen by Secret Service Director Sean Curran.
Friday's event will honor Secret Service Officer Victor Gonzales, who was shot but stopped the attack in April. Gonzales, wearing a protective vest, was the sole person injured. Washington Hilton staff who assisted guests during the incident will also be recognized. The gala, a long-standing Washington tradition, supports journalism scholarships and celebrates the First Amendment.
Differences for this year's rescheduled dinner include a black-tie optional dress code, the exclusion of traditional pre-dinner parties, and digital ticketing instead of paper. The guest list has also been pruned due to the Waldorf's smaller capacity. Although Trump's remarks are expected to be more subdued, he previously stated that the April shooting underscored the need for enhanced security. WHCA President Weijia Jiang characterized the event as a statement against violence and for a free press. Mentalist Oz Pearlman is scheduled to provide entertainment.
