WHCA president speaks after gunfire at dinner event

White House Correspondents’ Dinner Canceled After Shooting Incident

Jiang Weijia, the President of the White House Correspondents Association, announced on Saturday that the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been canceled and will be rescheduled following a shooting at the event, which led to President Donald Trump being evacuated.

“Law enforcement advised us to follow standard procedures and leave the location. I want to assure everyone that no one was harmed. President Trump, the First Lady, and the Cabinet members are all safe,” Jiang stated.

Even though Jiang hoped the dinner could continue, the attendees reacted positively when Trump confirmed he would address the nation from the White House later that night. It was a sigh of relief for many in the audience.

“I’m serious,” Jiang remarked, eliciting some laughter. “He has insisted on rescheduling the event within the next 30 days and wanted to go forward tonight, but, of course, security protocols had to take precedence.”

She added, “Tonight, I mentioned that journalism serves the public, and in emergencies, we don’t run away; we run toward the crisis. This evening, as we celebrate our First Amendment freedoms, we must also recognize how fragile they can be. Your reporting matters, and thankfully, everyone is safe. Thank you for gathering tonight; we will have this event again.”

Later on, Jiang addressed reporters with comments on Trump’s press conference.

Jiang noted that “law enforcement has asked us to vacate in line with protocol, and we will do so promptly.” She also mentioned, “I’ll hold a press conference in 30 minutes. Everyone is well, including the First Lady and members of the Cabinet. I’ve been in touch with the event organizers to ensure we can reschedule soon.”

The incident prompted a hasty departure for Trump, Melania Trump, and his Cabinet members after reports of gunfire at the Washington Hilton. Notably, this venue was also the location of an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in 1981.

Trump had confirmed last month that he would attend this year’s dinner, citing the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary as a significant reason.

Remarkably, this was Trump’s first attendance at the event since assuming the presidency, though he had attended in 2011 as a private citizen, famously receiving critical remarks from then-President Obama.