‘The show must go on’: Trump returns to rescheduled White House press gala
US President Donald Trump attended a rescheduled White House Correspondents' Association dinner in July, three months after a gunman disrupted the April event. Trump made jokes and criticized political opponents during his speech at the Waldorf Astoria hotel, which hosted approximately 700 guests.
The White House Correspondents' Association held its annual dinner at the Waldorf Astoria hotel following a three-month postponement caused by a security incident at the original April gathering. The rescheduled event drew roughly 700 attendees, significantly fewer than the initial April event at the Washington Hilton.
During his remarks, Trump opened with a reference to the disruption, stating that the event would proceed as planned. He made light of the situation while also acknowledging the seriousness of the security breach, praising several administration officials for their response during the incident.
The alleged gunman, Cole Tomas Allen, had attempted to breach the venue armed with weapons. He was accused of shooting and injuring a Secret Service officer and now faces federal charges related to the incident.
Throughout his speech, Trump employed humor to attack political opponents, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, and Senator Chuck Schumer. He characterized the gathering of journalists as people with "Trump derangement syndrome," though he also praised the event as a desirable ticket.
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