What to do about the White House correspondents dinner?

The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner faced renewed scrutiny after a gunman breached security at the Washington Hilton on April 25, targeting the event attended by 2,570 people. President Donald Trump announced plans to reschedule the dinner within 30 days, though critics dismissed the timeline as unrealistic for a full-scale event. The attack has intensified debates about the dinner’s purpose, with some calling it an outdated, overly formal gathering that undermines journalism’s credibility. Critics argue the dinner’s focus on networking with political elites—including Trump, who has sued multiple news organizations and frequently attacks the press—contradicts the image of journalists as independent truth-seekers. Graydon Carter, former editor of *Vanity Fair*, suggested shrinking the event to a smaller, more intimate format, while Susan Page of *USA Today*, a long-time attendee, emphasized refocusing on journalism’s role in democracy. Nicholas Lemann of *The New Yorker* called the dinner ‘Washington journalism as a Rotary Club meeting,’ highlighting its disconnect from modern press ethics. The association’s board, led by CBS’s Weijia Jiang, is evaluating options, including a smaller lunch or dinner, to balance security, finances, and tradition. Trevor Hunnicutt of Reuters noted the complexity of decisions involving legal, logistical, and financial factors. Trump has pushed for the event to move to the White House ballroom, citing security upgrades, but legal hurdles and the association’s skepticism may block that plan. Security remains a primary concern, with prosecutors treating the April attack as a potential assassination attempt. The dinner’s future hinges on whether the association can address public distrust while maintaining its fundraising mission, which supports over $100,000 in journalism scholarships annually. For now, the board is prioritizing thoughtful deliberation over hasty decisions.