Actress Patricia Heaton shared an impactful message in the aftermath of the shooting at the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.
“I wasn’t happy when [Bill] Clinton, [Barack] Obama or [Joe] Biden won, but I didn’t call them fascist/dangerous/threat to democracy,” Heaton, 68, wrote via X on Sunday, April 26, seemingly referring to the critics of President Donald Trump and his second term in office. “I didn’t hope someone would assassinate them.”
She continued, “I went on with my life with gratitude. Friends on the left, please try this. Your life and our country will be better.”
Trump, 79, attended the annual WHCA dinner on Saturday, April 25, for the first time. Shortly after the event, meant to celebrate freedom of the press, began, shots ran out outside the ballroom. The president, Vice President JD Vance, first lady Melania Trump and other members of the Trump administration were subsequently evacuated from the venue. A secret service member was shot during the incident, but his ballistic vest protected him. He was taken to a local hospital where he was subsequently released and reportedly sent home.
No one else was harmed during the shooting.
“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely,” Donald wrote via his Truth Social platform later that evening. “The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we ‘LET THE SHOW GO ON’ but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement.”
He continued, “They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again.”
WHCA president Weijia Jiang later confirmed that the annual gala will be rescheduled.
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“Law enforcement has requested that we leave the premises. … [The president] wanted to emphasize that nobody was hurt,” Jiang said from inside the ballroom before the rest of the event was canceled. “The cabinet and the first lady, everybody’s safe. I said earlier tonight that journalism is a public service because when there is an emergency we run toward the crisis, not away from it … I saw all of you reporting and that’s what we do. Thank God everybody is safe and thank you for coming together tonight.”
The 31-year-old alleged shooter from California has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, according to NBC News. Allen was taken into custody and an investigation is ongoing, though authorities believe he was targeting the president and members of his cabinet. He is expected to be arraigned in federal court on Monday, April 27.
“Tonight, a coward attempted to create a national tragedy,” Secret Service director Matthew Quinn wrote in a statement shared via X. “He underestimated the protective capabilities of the U.S. Secret Service, and was stopped at first contact. The strength of our layered security posture was evident, with a myriad of countermeasures still ahead. Grateful for the brave men and women of the Secret Service and our valued Law Enforcement partners.”
