White House Correspondents' Dinner security overhaul after April shooting

On 25 April 2026 a gunman, identified as Cole Allen, stormed the security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Dinner. He fired at an officer before being subdued about 120 yards from the podium, preventing a possible assassination of President Donald Trump. The incident forced the gala to be cancelled and later rescheduled for Friday at the Waldorf Astoria, with a smaller ballroom and stricter security measures, including additional metal‑detector checkpoints and an advance team.

Secret Service Director Sean Curran warned that the agency has opened more than 10,000 threat investigations this year – a 40 % increase over the same period last year – describing the threat environment as “off the charts.” The surge reflects online intimidation, lone‑actor plots and emerging threats such as drones. Curran said the security system used in April “worked” because the gunman was stopped well before reaching the stage, and officials are confident about the upcoming dinner.

President Trump is expected to attend and speak at the rescheduled event. Ahead of the dinner, hundreds of journalists and press‑freedom groups have issued a letter urging the White House Correspondents' Association to publicly defend the First Amendment and condemn attacks on the media.