Donald Trump says “much more secure … we need the ballroom” for White House after Washington attack

After a gunman stormed the Washington Hilton in April, shooting a Secret Service agent in an alleged attempt to assassinate President Donald Trump, the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was abruptly halted and has now been rescheduled for July 24 at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C. Trump—who once derided the gala but recently called it a “HOT ticket”—is set to attend, with the event’s relocation partly reflecting his criticism of the Hilton’s security. In the aftermath of the attack, Trump argued for a new White House ballroom, describing it as far more secure and insisting such a space was needed. The rescheduled dinner, hosted by the White House Correspondents’ Association, has drawn renewed scrutiny from journalists questioning its purpose and optics, especially given Trump’s combative relationship with the press.