Trump set for 'unifying yet vicious' speech at WHCA dinner
President Donald Trump will deliver a "unifying yet vicious" speech Friday at the rescheduled White House Correspondents Association dinner, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. The event returns after an April shooting halted the original dinner, with heightened security at Washington's Waldorf Astoria.
Key Takeaways
- Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump's speech will be "unifying yet vicious" and "serious yet hilarious."
- The White House Correspondents Association dinner was rescheduled after shots rang out at the April event.
- Friday's redo is at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, with a more visible Secret Service presence.
- WHCA president Weijia Jiang said the association "will not be intimidated" by political violence.
- Secret Service officer Victor Gonzales and Washington Hilton staff will receive a special WHCA award.
What did the White House say about Trump's speech?
In a statement to ABC News, Leavitt framed the president's remarks as deliberately mixed in tone.
"The president's speech will be a combination of unifying yet vicious, and serious yet hilarious, all at the same time, if you can imagine that," she said. "One thing I can assure you, it will be entertaining."
The White House Correspondents Association dinner traditionally pairs journalism awards with presidential remarks and a headliner. Mentalist Oz Pearlman, billed for the spring event, will return for the redo, the association said.
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Why was the White House Correspondents Association dinner rescheduled?
The annual dinner ended abruptly in April after authorities say Cole Allen opened fire inside the Washington Hilton, where journalists, guests, and top officials—including the president—had gathered.
Allen pleaded not guilty in May to charges that include attempting to assassinate the president, transporting a firearm with intent to commit a felony, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon.
Secret Service officer Victor Gonzales was shot; the bullet struck his protective vest and he continued responding, the Secret Service said.
WHCA president Weijia Jiang, who also presided over the April dinner, said the rescheduled event sends a clear message: "Tonight our message is this: We are back. We will not be intimidated. We refuse to let an act of violence have the final world."
The association said it was determined to finish the interrupted program and will present a President's Award for Exceptional Service to Gonzales and Washington Hilton staff.
How is security changing for Friday's dinner?
Friday's dinner is at a different venue: the Waldorf Astoria on Pennsylvania Avenue. Guests will see an increased and "visible" security presence, according to Secret Service chief spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.
"We are confident that our robust security plan will ensure the safety of our protectees and attendees, just as our plan did in April," Guglielmi said. Secret Service director Sean Curran said earlier in the week that protective measures worked in April and that an advance team was preparing the redo site.
Vice President JD Vance, who attended the spring dinner, is not expected Friday after he and second lady Usha Vance welcomed their fourth child on Sunday, a source familiar with the matter told ABC News.