Trump resumes White House correspondents' dinner after April shooting

Washington — President Joe Biden delivered a brief set of jokes and pointed remarks toward political rivals during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Tuesday, the first such address since the event was abruptly halted by a shooting on April 22. The incident, which injured several attendees and prompted an immediate evacuation of the Hilton Washington DC, led organizers to suspend the ceremony for more than a month while security measures were reassessed. In his remarks, Biden referenced the disruption, quipping that “the only thing that got us all together faster than a press conference was a stray bullet,” before moving on to mock opposition leaders for their “never‑ending campaign promises.” The president’s humor was interspersed with acknowledgments of the journalists’ work and a call for “a return to normalcy” as the gathering resumed.

Security officials confirmed that the suspect, a 28‑year‑old male, was apprehended at the scene and that the investigation remains ongoing. The Department of Homeland Security announced additional protocols for future events, including expanded perimeter checks and increased coordination with local law enforcement. The dinner, a long‑standing tradition for political satire and press‑president interaction, concluded without further incident, and the White House Correspondents’ Association issued a statement praising the resilience of the press corps and the swift response of emergency personnel.