Trump calls for WHCD to be rescheduled after shooting

Dave Lawler

Man in tux — Trump at the dinner prior to the security incident. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for OP

President Trump has called for the White House Correspondents' Dinner to be rescheduled for a date within the next month after a security incident during Saturday's dinner, WHCA chair Weijia Jiang said.

The big picture: Trump intended to return to the dinner after being evacuated, two sources told Axios, but Jiang said law enforcement had insisted everyone leave the premises.

Driving the news: Trump was hastily evacuated after a suspected gunman tried to breach security and was shot by Secret Service, federal law enforcement officials told Axios.

After 30 minutes of confusion, Jiang announced that the program would resume shortly.
Trump also took to Truth Social and said "the shooter has been apprehended" and he had "recommended that we 'LET THE SHOW GO ON,'" but would be guided by law enforcement.
Jiang later announced that "everyone is safe," but law enforcement had decided to clear the building.

Behind the scenes: Prior to that news, word had spread within Trumpworld that the president would be returning to the stage.

"He's coming back," one Trump source told Axios. "It's historic. It's so characteristic of the president and so uncharacteristic of the dinner, which is normally about civility. There is civility in the room but it was broken by the gunman."
The source compared the moment to then-U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher addressing the Conservative Party conference in 1984 after surviving an assassination attempt.

What's next: Trump was ultimately unable to return on Saturday, but plans to return within the next month.

Add Axios on Google

Trump calls for WHCD to be rescheduled after shooting

What to read next