The U.S. Secret Service said it would increase security for the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner scheduled for Friday night at the Waldorf Astoria. The move follows an April shooting at the original venue that wounded one officer.
The dinner, originally held April 25 at the Washington Hilton, was interrupted when authorities say Cole Allen descended from the 10th floor, breached barriers, and fired a shotgun. A Secret Service agent subdued him, though one officer suffered minor injuries.
The rescheduled event at the Waldorf Astoria on Pennsylvania Avenue marks the first time in decades the dinner has not been held at the Washington Hilton. The ballroom there holds about 1,300 guests compared with more than 4,000 at the previous site.
Anthony Guglielmi, the agency’s chief of communications, said Friday that personnel had worked with the White House Correspondents’ Association, hotel security, and law enforcement. All guests will pass airport-style screening, and roads around the hotel will close.
The White House Correspondents’ Association plans to honor wounded officer Victor Gonzales with its President’s Award for Exceptional Service. The event, including any remarks by President Donald Trump, was set to stream live on The Daily Wire.
