President Donald Trump will attend a rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which will be smaller and more subdued than the original event. The dinner was postponed after a gunman opened fire near a security checkpoint outside the Washington Hilton ballroom in April.

Security Concerns

The new venue, the Waldorf Astoria, has enhanced security measures in place, including limited access points. The event will also have a smaller crowd, with less than a third of the original attendees.

Despite the security concerns, the correspondents’ association felt it was important to hold the event to recognize the importance of the First Amendment and to present awards to those who have demonstrated exceptional journalism.

First Amendment Recognition

The dinner will feature a presentation of awards to Secret Service police officer Victor Gonzales, who was struck by the gunman, and to the staff of the Washington Hilton. The event will also include a performance by mentalist Oz Pearlman.

The correspondents’ association has faced criticism for inviting President Trump to the event, given his history of criticizing the press. However, the organization felt it was important to include him in the event to promote a dialogue about the importance of a free press.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.