press corps (13. 383)

Attending the White House Correspondents’ Dinner for the first time since boycotting the annual event over media bias against him, Trump, the first lady, vice president, cabinet members were rushed to safety as the venue, the ballroom of the Washington Hilton—the same place where Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981—was evacuated of international journalists on the politics beat. Shots were fired in a secure screening-area as the dinner was starting, Trump later sharing on social media images of the alleged gunman (a guest of the hotel travelling from California) being apprehended and expressing a desire that the event continue after the incident, but deferring to his secret service detail. Ultimately it was decided to postpone the dinner and hold it within thirty days, Trump prepared to deliver his most inappropriate speech yet, he claimed, and was afraid afraid with the rescheduling he’d have to be very nice and boring next time. No one was hurt other than the assailant, recovering in a local hospital and poised to face charges on Monday and the one security officer sustained light injuries. This political violence comes after there has been rumblings in the MAGAsphere doubting the authenticity of the assassination attempt on Trump during his 2024 campaign, with some suggesting the grazing of the candidate’s ear was staged. The White House Correspondents’ Association, which sponsors the gala dinner, was formed by members of the press pool in 1914 in response to rumours that the administration of Woodrow Wilson, possibly without basis, was highly selective about choosing which journalists could attend press conferences and only entertained non-critical, soft-ball questions.