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Trump at Dinner Touts White House Drone Port

7/25/2026

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Summary

Trump Attends Dinner

U.S. President Donald Trump attended the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner on July 24 2026.
The dinner moved from the Washington Hilton to the Waldorf Astoria, limiting guests to 700.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran required QR-code tickets, magnetometer screening and a single entry point.
The ceremony honored Secret Service Officer Victor Gonzales, wounded in April, and noted Allen’s not-guilty plea to attempted assassination.

Summary

Justice Dept Withdraws

The Justice Department withdrew subpoenas to New York Times reporters on Air Force One security after a judge’s rebuke.
Poynter Institute ethics expert Kelly McBride warned that journalist-politician camaraderie harms public trust.
New awards honored Secret Service Agent Victor Gonzales for confronting the shooter.
President Donald Trump touted a rooftop “drone port” for the White House, tying it to the ballroom’s security upgrades.

History

Historical Context

After the September 11, 2001 attacks by 19 al-Qaeda hijackers that killed nearly 3,000 people, the Bush administration formed the Department of Homeland Security to unify agencies such as the Secret Service, FBI and TSA. Those post-9/11 safeguards now shape the limited-guest White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where QR-code tickets and magnetometer checks echo the era’s heightened vigilance.

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Trump Attends Dinner

U.S. President Donald Trump attended the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner on July 24 2026.
The dinner moved from the Washington Hilton to the Waldorf Astoria, limiting guests to 700.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran required QR-code tickets, magnetometer screening and a single entry point.
The ceremony honored Secret Service Officer Victor Gonzales, wounded in April, and noted Allen’s not-guilty plea to attempted assassination.

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