Trump says ‘show must go on’ at rescheduled correspondents’ dinner

President Donald Trump addressed the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, a rescheduled event held under heightened security following an April shooting that forced its initial cancellation. The gathering, held at the Waldorf Astoria hotel, featured a more subdued atmosphere with approximately 700 guests, single entry point, multiple security checks, and the presence of armed officers and a detection dog.

“

As I said three months ago, the show must go on.

White House Correspondents' Association president Weijia Jiang of CBS News welcomed the attendees, emphasizing the press corps' resilience. "Tonight our message is this: We are back," she stated. "We will not be intimidated. We refuse to let an act of violence have the final word." Jiang also acknowledged the trauma of the original event and thanked the president for his support in rescheduling.

“

Tonight our message is this: We are back. We will not be intimidated. We refuse to let an act of violence have the final word.

Initially, Trump was expected to deliver sharp criticisms against the press, remarks he had described as "rather nasty." However, early in his speech, he signaled a shift in his prepared remarks. Instead of his planned confrontational statements, he opted for a mix of topics, even referring to the assembled journalists as "the largest group of ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ people put together at one time." This departure from his anticipated remarks marked a significant change from the aggressive tone he had previously indicated.

“

This is really the largest group of ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ people put together at one time.

The rescheduled dinner also included the presentation of two additional awards. One honored Secret Service agent Victor Gonzales, who was at the security checkpoint during the April shooting and was struck in his protective vest. Jiang praised his courage, stating, "Officer Gonzales … ran toward danger so that thousands of others could make it home safely."

“

Officer Gonzales … ran toward danger so that thousands of others could make it home safely.