Trump revels in his first WHCA dinner speech despite serious tone and tight security

Washington, D.C., reporters and Trump administration officials gathered for the redo the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Friday evening, sending a defiant message as they came together to celebrate the free press and First Amendment in the wake of the attempted attack on the dinner three months ago.

Beltway reporters, pundits, and government officials at the Waldorf Astoria hotel noticed heightened security and a smaller crowd in the room at Friday night’s WHCA Dinner. While about 2,600 people attended the dinner in April, just about 700 were in attendance at Friday evening’s do-over.