The White House Correspondents' Dinner resumed on July 24 local time, marking a "fresh start" following a shooting incident on April 25.
While the organizers aimed to uphold tradition and avoid having "all attention" remain on the April shooting, the event returned with a new venue, a smaller scale, and heightened security. These measures indicate that the celebration, officially described as a tribute to "freedom of the press and speech," has not escaped the shadow of violence. Instead, it resembled a stress test for safety in an era of American political violence.
The dinner, a key event in U.S. journalism traditionally seen as a symbol of friendly interaction between the president and the media, was postponed from spring to summer. It was forced to return with heightened security and a smaller guest list, while also having to "guard against" President Donald Trump, who has a long-strained relationship with the press, from delivering verbal attacks during the proceedings.
Zhao Minghao, a professor and deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, noted that deep-seated issues like economic, racial, and class contradictions have long been difficult to resolve in the U.S., leading to increased political polarization and political violence. Furthermore, the media, particularly the "information cocoons" formed by social media platforms, allows organizations that support political violence to conduct propaganda, further sharpening divisions and making political violence an increasingly common part of American public life.
A Century-Old Dinner Becomes a "Security Battleground"
The White House Correspondents' Dinner, first held in 1921, is one of the most representative annual events in American journalism, traditionally taking place on the last Saturday of April at the Washington Hilton Hotel. For a long time, it was a special occasion in U.S. political culture: the president would attend and deliver a speech, sitting with reporters and exchanging jokes to demonstrate a "friendly relationship."
However, this year's event on April 25 was abruptly halted by gunfire.
That evening, shortly after about 2,600 guests had entered the Washington Hilton and before the dinner officially began, shots were heard. Reports indicate that 31-year-old California man Cole Allen, armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knife, breached security checkpoints inside the hotel and exchanged fire with Secret Service agents.
Guests sought cover under tables as agents entered the ballroom with weapons drawn, urgently evacuating Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other senior officials. The gunman was subdued before entering the main ballroom, preventing more severe consequences, but the scheduled dinner was canceled.
Following the incident, U.S. media quickly highlighted security lapses. The New York Post and other outlets reported that Allen had emailed his family about 10 minutes before the attack, mocking the hotel's security flaws as "unbelievable."
Consequently, the rescheduled dinner on July 24 adopted many measures drastically different from past events, focusing on security.
Weijia Jiang, a former president of the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) and a CBS reporter involved in organizing the event, told People magazine that the venue was moved from the usual Washington Hilton to the Waldorf Astoria. This location, formerly the site of the Trump International Hotel, has a heavy deployment of local and federal police, which is beneficial for security.
However, the Waldorf Astoria's ballroom is less than half the size of the Hilton's, leading to a significantly reduced event due to space and funding constraints. While the April dinner invited about 2,600 guests, the July makeup event strictly limited participation to around 680 people.
All news organizations invited to the April dinner were re-invited, but due to fewer seats, each outlet received fewer spots and had to decide which journalists and government officials to send.
Reports indicate the Waldorf Astoria ballroom will have only one entrance, a dedicated access point separate from the hotel's main entrance. Each pre-vetted guest will receive a unique QR code and must present it along with a valid government-issued ID to enter.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi stated in a pre-dinner announcement that all ticketed guests will undergo metal detection and checks similar to airport security before entering the event. Additionally, the Secret Service has increased police presence around the hotel and will enhance traffic controls in the area.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran said at a July 22 press conference that an advance team had already moved into the new venue and developed a security plan. Deputy Director Matthew Quinn also emphasized that the resumption was not a "do-over" but a new security mission for the president, executed at the standard for presidential, government official, and other protected personnel attendance.
"After I Leave, the Media Will Go Bankrupt, So I've Decided to Run for a Fourth Term"
Before the dinner's resumption, Trump called it a "good thing," stating, "We can't let crazy people change our way of life."
However, given the escalating tensions between Trump and the U.S. media—the Justice Department recently subpoenaed a New York Times reporter over a story about Air Force One security—there are concerns that Trump might directly attack the press during his speech at the dinner.
These concerns are not unfounded. Before the dinner, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hinted that Trump's speech would be "a combination of unifying and intense, and serious and humorous—if you can imagine that."
"It hasn't been easy tonight. So many awards... Do I have any say in these awards?" Trump began his speech, saying he wouldn't dwell on the journalism awards but instead praised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller for their "courage" during the April shooting.
He then attacked the new WHCA president, Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich, saying, "She's a very good reporter. I can tell you, sometimes she's very mean. She looks so beautiful, but she's actually so ruthless."
Trump also mocked Heinrich's husband, Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, noting Heinrich "married a very successful congressman, a pretty good one. I hope to get a little more of his vote," but Fitzpatrick "occasionally shows some independence, which we don't like." Fitzpatrick had voted against Trump's tax and spending bill and twice voted to condemn Trump's decision on the Iran war.
During his speech, Trump also targeted journalists, politicians, and other celebrities he dislikes. He boasted, "After I'm gone, you all [the media] will go bankrupt, and your business model will be over."
Then, donning his red "TRUMP 2028" hat, Trump jokingly announced, "I'm happy to announce my decision—this will be big news. I intend to run for a fourth term as President of the United States. I will definitely do it." Trump will end his second term in January 2029, so a 2028 run would be his third term.
The WHCA defines the dinner as an event to honor the most impactful White House coverage from the past year and provide scholarships for student journalists. The core of the event is the media, not the invited president. The president's attendance and speech tradition are merely a symbol of a "friendly relationship" with the press.
But this symbolism never materialized during Trump's first term. He has had a long-tense relationship with mainstream U.S. news media, frequently criticizing them as "fake news" and boycotting the WHCA dinner throughout his first term.
Trump believes most U.S. media cover him with obvious political bias; many news organizations argue his attacks on the press undermine press freedom and democratic oversight.
According to the Associated Press, ahead of the dinner's resumption, hundreds of journalists, former journalists, and press freedom groups wrote to the WHCA, urging it to use Trump's attendance to publicly criticize his administration's pressure on the media. Citing events like subpoenaing the New York Times reporter and threatening to revoke licenses for some broadcasters, they called on the WHCA to "firmly defend press freedom in the president's presence."
At the dinner, New York Times reporter Taylor Page, subpoenaed by the Justice Department, received an award from the Center for Journalistic Integrity for "the most fair, just, and objective news reporting." Wall Street Journal reporters also received the Katherine Graham Award for Courage and Responsibility for reporting on Trump's birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump had previously threatened to sue the Wall Street Journal, calling it a "disgusting little rag."
NBC noted that Trump smiled as he watched media outlets he had attacked receive awards. During his speech, he criticized these reporters, saying they "shouldn't get awards" because their reporting was "false." He also claimed he had never attended the WHCA dinner before this year because media coverage of him was "not fair," but "we'll be back next year."
Ultimately, Trump "gracefully" concluded his hour-long speech, saying, "I just want to say that I have great respect for everyone in this room. Sometimes, I feel you haven't been fair to me. Maybe you have, I'm not sure. But sometimes you are very fair to me, and I deeply respect your profession."
Political Violence Becomes the New Norm in American Public Life
Notably, despite Trump attending the rescheduled dinner, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not, with the White House citing "prior commitments."
Given Trump's previous statement that Melania was frightened by the shooting, there is speculation that her absence was due to genuine safety concerns.
Days after the shooting, NBC reported on July 25 that Melania was furious after late-night host Jimmy Kimmel joked on his show that she was "glowing like a soon-to-be-widow bride."
The report also noted that Melania has become increasingly concerned about security. In a documentary about her, she focused heavily on parade routes, repeatedly asking, "Is this safe? Because if we go out, people will know where we're going. So, can it really be safe? Especially with everything that's happened in the past year..."
In recent years, from members of Congress to presidential candidates, U.S. politicians and activists have frequently faced violent threats.
In October 2022, a man attacked the San Francisco home of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a hammer, demanding to "find Nancy Pelosi." Pelosi was in Washington at the time, leading to her husband Paul Pelosi being injured.
In 2024, Trump survived two assassination attempts during his presidential campaign. In July, at a rally in Pennsylvania, a bullet grazed Trump's right ear. The image of him raising his fist while bleeding became a signature scene of his campaign.
In September 2024, a shooting occurred at the campaign office of then-Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. The same month, a man armed with a scope-equipped AK-47-style rifle was found hiding in bushes at Trump International Golf Club in an attempt to assassinate Trump, but was caught by Secret Service.
The BBC noted at the time that Americans have had to adapt to frequent, various-sized incidents of political violence over the past few years. "Partisan divisions are becoming sharper and more entrenched, and the norms guiding candidate behavior are eroding." With gun violence widespread across the U.S., such attacks could be "another inevitable new normal."
Since Trump returned to the White House, political violence has only increased. For ordinary Americans, the tension from political polarization has escalated from verbal arguments to realities like "an attack on a local lawmaker's home" or "someone you know receiving a threat."
In April 2025, the official residence of Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro was set on fire. In June, two Democratic state lawmakers in Minnesota were shot at their homes, resulting in one death and one injury. In September, prominent conservative activist and Trump political ally Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Data from the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism shows a 34.5% year-over-year increase in terrorism and targeted violence in the first eight months of 2025. After Kirk's death, threats and harassment against local U.S. officials surged. Nearly 90 related incidents were recorded that month, a 300% increase from the previous month, with half directly linked to Kirk.
The U.S. Capitol Police reported that "threat assessment cases" against members of Congress increased for the third consecutive year in 2025, surging 58% from 2024.
Following Kirk's assassination, analysts predicted that the risk of political violence in the U.S. will worsen as the November 2026 midterm elections approach. The events at the April WHCA dinner and subsequent incidents confirm this assessment.
Curran revealed that since January, the Secret Service has initiated over 10,000 threat cases against protected individuals, a roughly 40% increase compared to the same period last year. "Neither this agency nor my 24-year career have seen numbers like these."
Professor Zhao Minghao from Fudan University stated that the intensification of U.S. political violence is directly linked to economic contradictions, racial tensions, and the rise of right-wing populism. Many Americans are disillusioned with the political system, and deepening two-party polarization leads some to view the opposing party as an "enemy," a phenomenon he described as very prominent.
He believes U.S. political polarization is now manifesting as a new "variant": "affective polarization." This means political disagreements are further emotionalized and adversarial, amplifying political conflicts, which is a key reason for the rise in political violence.
Zhao pointed out that right-wing populist groups like the "Proud Boys" openly advocate for political violence. Some polls also show a growing number of Americans believe political violence is somewhat justifiable, a clear trend. Since Trump's first term, right-wing populism has further risen, and Trump himself has shown some support for groups like the "Proud Boys," making political violence more pronounced. Recent events, from assassination attempts on Trump to domestic discussions about left-wing political violence, show it is no longer an "exception" but increasingly a part of public life.
Zhao analyzed that the intensification of U.S. political polarization and violence is also closely linked to the development of media, especially social media. Social media creates a clear "information cocoon" effect, and podcast ecosystems drive this trend. Organizations supporting political violence use new platforms like podcasts for political communication and propaganda, further fueling the development of political violence in the U.S.
However, he noted that fundamentally, the core reason for rising political violence is the long-term failure to resolve deep-seated problems like economic, racial, and class contradictions. In recent years, U.S. political polarization has not eased but has continued to strengthen, not only between the Democratic and Republican parties but also within each party, where internal divisions and conflicts are increasingly prominent.
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