'We will not be intimidated': WHCA president says political violence won't have the final word

WASHINGTON, DC: White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) President Weijia Jiang opened the rescheduled 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner on Thursday, July 24, with a message condemning political violence nearly three months after an April shooting interrupted the annual event. 

Speaking before President Donald Trump, administration officials, members of Congress, and journalists, Jiang said the rescheduled dinner demonstrated that the White House press corps would not be intimidated by the April attack. The evening also featured a video montage revisiting the shooting, Trump's evacuation from the stage, and journalists returning to the White House briefing room to cover the unfolding incident.

Weijia Jiang says press corps 'will not be intimidated' after April attack

Opening the dinner, Jiang acknowledged the unusual circumstances surrounding the event and thanked attendees for returning after the April attack.

"Let's try this again. Because the one thing about this press corps is we always have a follow-up. Welcome to the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner," she said. 

Reflecting on the night of the shooting, Jiang praised journalists, law enforcement, and administration officials for quickly shifting from a celebratory event to covering breaking news.

White House Correspondents' Association President Weijia Jiang opening remarks at White House Correspondents' Dinner: "We are back, we will not be intimidated, we refuse to let an act of violence have the final word."

"That night will go down in history, and so will our response," she said, recalling how reporters began taking notes, filming, and streaming live while security responded outside the venue. She also noted that Trump went directly to the White House briefing room to answer questions from reporters.

Jiang added that despite political differences, the events of that evening underscored a shared commitment against violence. "Whatever may divide us, we stand together against political violence. An assassination attempt on our president is an attack on democracy itself."

She concluded her remarks with a message directed at those attending the rescheduled dinner. "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."

White House Correspondents' Dinner video revisits April shooting

Following Jiang's remarks, organizers played a video montage documenting the events that unfolded during the April White House Correspondents' Dinner, when a gunman opened fire near a security checkpoint outside the ballroom.

The video included security footage showing the suspect rushing toward the checkpoint, as well as clips of Secret Service agents escorting Trump away from the stage as the situation unfolded.

The montage also highlighted the response inside the White House after the attack, showing reporters and photographers moving to the briefing room where Trump addressed the press. Journalists who had moments earlier attended the dinner as guests were shown reporting live on the developing story while still dressed in formal attire.