Donald Trump is scheduled to return to the Washington Hilton on Friday, the same hotel where an assassination attempt occurred during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in April. Trump is set to deliver remarks at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's 'Road to Majority' event.
During the April 25 event, a gunman identified as Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, breached a security checkpoint with a shotgun and allegedly exchanged fire with authorities. Thundering shots were heard in the banquet hall, prompting attendees, including the President, his Cabinet, and lawmakers, to seek cover. Trump was quickly escorted off stage by the Secret Service and departed the venue. Allen has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempting to assassinate the President, assaulting a federal officer, and firearm charges. He faces a potential life sentence.
Following the incident, Trump described the hotel as "not a particularly secure building." A Secret Service official stated that while the security plan was effective in intercepting the threat, the agency continually reviews and adjusts its security posture as necessary.
The White House Correspondents' Dinner has since been rescheduled and will be held at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington, D.C., with heightened security protocols and a smaller guest list.
The Washington Hilton has a history of hosting significant events, including the annual journalist dinner and the National Prayer Breakfast, and was also the site of a 1981 assassination attempt on former President Ronald Reagan.
The Faith and Freedom Coalition is an evangelical Christian organization that has supported Trump and other Republican lawmakers. Trump has aligned himself with some of the group's advocated causes, such as restrictions on transgender athletes and support for large families.
This marks Trump's first return to the Washington Hilton since the April incident. He had previously survived two other attempts on his life during his 2024 presidential campaign: a grazing gunshot wound at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, and a security incident while golfing in Florida in September 2024.