Karoline Leavitt said Donald Trump was determined to return to the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner after gunfire caused the event to be evacuated in April. She described him as eager to address guests and resume the dinner, despite Secret Service concerns following what authorities treated as an alleged assassination attempt.

The incident occurred shortly after the dinner began at Washington’s Washington Hilton, when Cole Allen allegedly entered while armed; Trump and Vice-President JD Vance were escorted away, and guests took cover. Allen was quickly arrested, and authorities said an alleged manifesto identified Trump administration officials as targets. Trump later held a White House news conference, renewed calls for a White House ballroom, and attended the rescheduled dinner in July.