DC-Shooting at White House Correspondents Dinner, April 25, 2026

[Ontario Mom]

Does this country really need a White House Correspondents Dinner? Seems like a waste of money. Money that can be better used elsewhere.

Need? I suppose that's up for debate. However, the association members certainly welcome to spend their own money in whatever way they choose to. Also, I agree completely with this:

"We share the belief, held by our country’s Founders and enshrined in the First Amendment, that an independent news media is vital to the health of the republic." found on the "about" section of The Whitehouse Correspondence Association site here Dinner | White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA)

 

[IceIce9]

Does this country really need a White House Correspondents Dinner? Seems like a waste of money. Money that can be better used elsewhere.

It is tradition. First held in 1921.

 

[Katrinepa]

 

[Katrinepa]

It is tradition. First held in 1921.

Not at all a waste of time or money.
The 50 men who gathered on Saturday, May 7, 1921 at the Arlington Hotel at Vermont Avenue and L Street on the north side of McPherson Square could not have known that they were initiating a Washington tradition, one that would annually draw 2,600 people and a national audience a century later. The White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner has evolved greatly since that first dinner, but the annual event is still a joyous celebration of the First Amendment.

The dinner traditionally draws the President and First Lady as well as many other senior government officials and members of the news media. Proceeds from the dinner go towards scholarships for aspiring journalists and awards recognizing excellence in the profession.

 

[Katrinepa]

I still disagree that MSM had anything to do with inspiring Cole Allen. The problem lies in social media, not MSM, IMO. I also think we should differentiate between MSM and opinion shows as they have a different purpose. The major change that we all recognize is the rise of editorial content and opinion shows, not necessarily in the standards of MSM.

MOO.

OTOH, many in MSM have turned real, independent, investigative reporting into plenty of opinion and entertainment, rather that Facts, in many stories. Sometimes feels like an advertisement for their point of view, rather than a story with varied facts that have been researched at all. moo

 

[NuttMegg]

Any evidence of a second shooter?

Lots of people with guns. News reports said shotgun with pellets was used by Allen. News reports said LE official shot with "bullet", deflected by a cell phone. Do you have any knowledge of shotguns? I do. They don't shoot "bullets". News reports are often written up in error right after an event.

 

[NuttMegg]

Does this country really need a White House Correspondents Dinner? Seems like a waste of money. Money that can be better used elsewhere.

It's not public money. Which is why it's ridiculous to use the failed fiasco as some justification for a gilded ballroom in the White House complex for private events.

 

[PrairieWind]

Lots of people with guns. News reports said shotgun with pellets was used by Allen. News reports said LE official shot with "bullet", deflected by a cell phone. Do you have any knowledge of shotguns? I do. They don't shoot "bullets". News reports are often written up in error right after an event.

What "news reports" are you referring to that said he fired the long gun? That would be helpful to start with.

 

[PrairieWind]

Not that we're aware of. Isn't it more likely that if the officer was hit by a bullet rather than being blasted with buckshot, that he was hit by a bullet fired by another LE officer? In the chaos, people get hit by crossfire.

Who said the officer wasn't hit by buck shot? Who said what the shooter fired?

 

[NuttMegg]

What "news reports" are you referring to that said he fired the long gun? That would be helpful to start with.

What has your own research uncovered?

I never said anything at all about "the long gun".

 

[deoneta]

Lots of people with guns. News reports said shotgun with pellets was used by Allen. News reports said LE official shot with "bullet", deflected by a cell phone. Do you have any knowledge of shotguns? I do. They don't shoot "bullets". News reports are often written up in error right after an event.

The shooter wrote that he was going to use birdshot- lots of small pellets in the shot gun shell. That's not verified that I know of. The size of the pellets vary on up to a slug- one big solid pellet like you'd use for deer and bigger game.

 

[SouthAussie]

Weijia Jiang, White House Correspondents' Association president, shared on X that food from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was donated.

“The Hilton donated the ~2,600 dinners that went unserved at WHCD. They freeze-dried the steak and lobster for longer shelf life before giving them to two shelters for abused women and children. HUGE thank you to the staff that worked through the night under terrible circumstances,” Jiang wrote.

A Washington Hilton spokesperson told NBC News that the hotel donates unused food from events to support local organizations.

2,600 unserved dinners were donated, WHCA president says

Weijia Jiang, White House Correspondents' Association president, shared on X that food from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was donated. “The Hilton

www.nbcnews.com

 

[NuttMegg]

Who said the officer wasn't hit by buck shot? Who said what the shooter fired?

If you back up on the thread and read the links it will be easy to get caught up.

 

[SouthAussie]

Cole Tomas Allen made a hotel reservation at the Washington Hilton for three nights, from Friday to Sunday, according to a newly unsealed probable cause affidavit.

He traveled by train from his home near Los Angeles to Chicago last Tuesday, arriving in Chicago on Thursday, the affidavit says. Then he boarded a train that arrived in Washington on Friday around 1 p.m.

Two hours later, around 3 p.m., he checked into a "specific hotel room" at the Hilton and remained there overnight, the affidavit says.

Suspect's travel to D.C. detailed in new court document

Cole Tomas Allen made a hotel reservation at the Washington Hilton for three nights, from Friday to Sunday, according to a newly unsealed probable cause

www.nbcnews.com

 

[NuttMegg]

The shooter wrote that he was going to use birdshot- lots of small pellets in the shot gun shell. That's not verified that I know of. The size of the pellets vary on up to a slug- one big solid pellet like you'd use for deer and bigger game.

Yep, as I mentioned, no bullets if a shotgun was used. So, if a bullet was blocked by a cell phone, then if didn't come from a shotgun.

 

[SouthAussie]

The empty shell casing from the fired 12-gauge shotgun was still in the weapon and had not been ejected, meaning the weapon had not been pumped to be reloaded, Blanche said.

Law enforcement fired five times, but the suspect was not hit, Blanche said.

Empty shell in suspect’s shotgun was still in weapon, Blanche says

Evidence shows that the suspect fired a shotgun during Saturday’s incident, but the investigation into the gunfire remains under investigation, Blanche said. “W

www.nbcnews.com

 

[PrairieWind]

What has your own research uncovered?

I never said anything at all about "the long gun".

Usually when you make factual statements like that you are required to provide a link for it. <modsnip: No need for snark>
Did you think he fire buckshot from a pistol? I'm interested in your shotgun experience? LOL.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Any evidence of a second shooter?

I believe the poster may have been referring to another agent. In the articles posted earlier in the thread, it was unclear who actually shot the agent.

MOO.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Does this country really need a White House Correspondents Dinner? Seems like a waste of money. Money that can be better used elsewhere.

It's a private event hosted and paid for by the media. I don't see anything wrong with it. Celebrities have the Emmys and Tonys and Grammys and Oscars. The media gets their own celebrations and one happens to be the WHCD.

MOO.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

OTOH, many in MSM have turned real, independent, investigative reporting into plenty of opinion and entertainment, rather that Facts, in many stories. Sometimes feels like an advertisement for their point of view, rather than a story with varied facts that have been researched at all. moo

But that's kind of my point. The opinion shows have their place, but I don't tend to conflate them with actual MSM. Real journalists aren't usually editorializing.

MOO.