FBI Director Kash Patel said Monday that security at future White House Correspondents’ Association dinners will be overhauled after a shooting at the Washington Hilton Hotel this weekend left journalists and attendees questioning the lack of basic vetting measures.
Patel, speaking on Fox News’s Fox and Friends, stated bluntly: “Look, great question and we’re going to do it entirely differently.” He confirmed that President Trump has called for a repeat dinner within roughly 30 days, with a “security posture” that will be markedly different from the event that saw a gunman open fire.
The weekend incident exposed what critics describe as glaring gaps in security—no magnetometers, no ID checks, and no requirement to present tickets at the door. Patel acknowledged those failures and said he will work closely with the FBI, local police, and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who oversees the Secret Service, to ensure a more robust framework.
“That is the great thing about having this law enforcement team, I can call Markwayne Mullin and say we have to do things differently. We will be better postured for the next event,” Patel said. He noted that agents investigating the shooting “have not slept” as they pursue answers.
President Trump has suggested moving future dinners to the White House ballroom, which is currently under construction and expected to be completed by 2028. In a weekend appearance on Fox News’s The Sunday Briefing, Trump said he would not allow “criminals and these really bad people change the course of events in our country.”
The suspect, Cole Allen, 31, is in police custody and expected to be arraigned Monday on charges including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer. Reports indicate Allen may have targeted Trump and other officials. For more details, see our coverage on the suspect’s alleged manifesto and motives.
Patel’s commitment to a security overhaul comes as lawmakers on both sides call for action. GOP Representative Abe Hamadeh has urged Congress to tighten security protocols, while Democratic Representative Ro Khanna has pushed for a bipartisan panel on political violence. Meanwhile, Trump has ordered a broader security review, as reported in the president’s directive to the Secret Service.
The WHCA dinner, a high-profile event honoring White House press coverage, has long relied on a mix of private and federal security. Patel’s remarks signal that future gatherings will see a more militarized presence, with the FBI and DHS taking a lead role in vetting and access control. “You heard the president say we would do this again in short order,” Patel added. “Security posture will be different.”
As the investigation continues, the shooting has reignited debates about political violence and the safety of public figures. The WHCA president has praised the initial security response, but Patel’s vow of a complete overhaul suggests the agency intends to leave no room for error at the next dinner.
