The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) has rescheduled its annual dinner to July 24 after the original April 25 event was suspended when a gunman attempted to access the venue, sparking an exchange of fire with Secret Service agents.

WHCA President Weijia Jiang informed members in a letter that the new event will feature "significantly enhanced safety measures and new access procedures." US President Donald Trump confirmed he will attend the rescheduled dinner and deliver remarks.

During the April shooting, Trump and Vice President JD Vance were rushed off stage by Secret Service agents. The suspect was subdued at the scene, and one Secret Service agent was injured by shotgun fire, according to the Department of Justice.

Trump called the rescheduling a "sign of Strength and Fortitude," posting on social media: "We cannot allow Lunatics to change our way of life, or even its scheduling." He added he is unsure if he will "give the same rather nasty statements" planned for April.

WHCA spent weeks raising funds to ensure members who purchased tickets for April do not have to pay again for the July event, which will be a "more intimate gathering." Financial support is also offered to scholarship winners wishing to travel back to Washington DC.

The dinner will be held at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington DC, a former post office converted into a luxury hotel by the Trump Organization over a decade ago. The Trump family leased the building in 2012, opened the Trump International Hotel there in 2016, and sold the lease in 2022.

Source: www.bbc.com