Why a correspondents’ dinner at a White House ballroom could endanger press freedom

Shooting incident leads to focus on Trump’s ballroom — but press event needs an neutral location

About an hour after a shooting inside the venue hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, President Donald Trump — who attended and was quickly evacuated — said the incident showed why the White House should have its own secure ballroom.

Ignoring standard procedures such as seeking approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, Trump has moved forward with construction of a 90,000-square-foot structure on what had been the East Wing of the White House, which he bulldozed last year. He has said the ballroom is being privately financed with $400 million in donations.

At a White House press conference April 25 after the correspondents’ dinner was postponed due to the shooting, Trump said, “We need the ballroom.”