Trump delivers toned down speech at WHCA dinner, stating April’s remarks were ‘going to be a doozy’

President Donald Trump delivered a speech Friday night at the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association annual dinner, which struck both lighthearted and more serious tones after the spring shooting.While the annual dinner is historically held at the Washington Hilton, Friday’s dinner is held at the Waldorf Astoria and had a smaller guest list than that of April’s ill-fated dinner. 
The president noted that the speech is different than the one he planned for April and comes after a gunman disrupted the previous banquet earlier this year.
“Oh, that was going to be a doozy. I was so psyched. I was going to rip people, and I don’t know. Just something changed,” Trump said of the original speech. “It’s really for the better, I just wouldn’t want to do that.”
The president also praised some of April’s attendees for their bravery, including members of his administration such as War Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House border czar Tom Homan.
“Very serious situation, many of you were there with me, and some showed extreme bravery, like Pete Hegseth, Steve Miller, Tom Homan,” Trump said. “They were standing on tables, and most of you were under the tables.
“I didn’t know if they were brave, if they were smart, if they were stupid as hell,” the president continued. “But they were on those tables in some cases, and there were a lot of different feelings going on in the room at that moment.
At the April event, armed suspect Cole Allen rushed past security and fired at least one round from a 12-guage shotgun, according to the authorities. Secret Service rushed the president and first lady from the room as guests ducked for cover. 
The president praised Secret Service agent Victor Gonzales, who was shot during the dinner at the Washington Hilton, commenting on his “speed and professionalism and extraordinary courage.” 
“So to Officer Gonzales, Secret Service, Metropolitan Police, law enforcement generally, and even all of the military surrounding us in the room tonight, we salute you and we thank you with all of our hearts,” Trump said. 
The agent was given a standing ovation. 
White House Correspondent Association President Weijia Jiang also gave remarks at the dinner, stating that even though the other dinner was disrupted, it was important to celebrate the “free press and the vital role of journalism in our democracy for over a century.”
“We will not allow an act of violence to have the last word, especially during a year when we are reflecting on the 250th anniversary of America and everything we stand for,” Jiang said.
Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage. 

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