armed individual attempted entry at original venue
NEW VENUE
Waldorf
Waldorf Astoria Washington replaces traditional Hilton site
CHRONOLOGY — 1981 TO 2026
1921First WHCA Dinner
The White House Correspondents' Association holds its first annual dinner on May 7, 1921 at the Arlington Hotel, establishing a tradition of press-executive branch engagement. The WHCA itself was founded in 1914.
INSTITUTION
Late 1960sWashington Hilton Becomes Home
After the Washington Hilton opened in 1965, the annual dinner settles into the hotel as its permanent venue — a tradition that would last nearly six decades.
INSTITUTION
2017Trump Skips Dinner
President Trump becomes the first sitting president in 36 years to skip the WHCA dinner, sending a signal of open hostility toward the mainstream press.
PRESS RELATIONS
2018Controversy Over Comedian's Remarks
The dinner draws national controversy over the host comedian's remarks, accelerating debate about the event's format and purpose.
PRESS RELATIONS
2019No Comedian; Scholar Keynote Instead
The WHCA replaces the traditional comedian host with a presidential historian, reflecting the heightened sensitivity around the event.
INSTITUTION
2020Dinner Cancelled — COVID-19
The annual dinner is cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, breaking the streak of annual gatherings.
DISRUPTION
2021Dinner Cancelled Again — COVID-19
A second consecutive cancellation due to ongoing pandemic conditions.
DISRUPTION
April 25, 2026Shooting at WHCA Dinner
During the April 25 WHCA dinner at the Washington Hilton — the first dinner Trump attended as president — suspect Cole Tomas Allen ran past a security checkpoint while armed with a long gun and knives. Shots were fired; a Secret Service officer was struck and hospitalized. Allen was arrested and charged with four counts including attempted assassination of the president. The dinner was halted and all attendees including Trump were evacuated.
SECURITY
April–July 2026Postponement & Venue Change
Organizers postpone the dinner and announce a venue change from the Washington Hilton to the Waldorf Astoria Washington, citing the need for significantly enhanced security measures.
SECURITY
July 24, 2026Rescheduled Dinner — Waldorf Astoria
The rescheduled WHCA dinner takes place on Friday, July 24 at the Waldorf Astoria Washington with tightened security measures, marking the first time in nearly six decades the event is held outside the Washington Hilton.
INSTITUTION
INSTITUTION
PRESS RELATIONS
DISRUPTION
SECURITY
KEY QUESTIONS
Data represents publicly available reporting as of July 2026. Presidential attendance records sourced from White House Correspondents' Association historical records. Press freedom context drawn from Reporters Without Borders annual indices.