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The footage stunned many viewers, not only because of the timing, but because of the apparent lack of urgency shown by some attendees. Others in the room were also seen taking selfies while carrying wine bottles as they exited the venue.
According to the New York Post:
“Because the shooting took place early, during the salad portion of the marquee dinner, there was an abundance of wine left abandoned at tables across the ballroom.”
The report added that the identity of the woman seen in the clip remains unclear. It is not yet known whether she was a member of the press, a guest, or connected to the event in another capacity.
Still, the video spread rapidly online and triggered fierce reactions from social media users.
Many Americans were disgusted by what they saw, arguing that guests at one of the nation’s most high-profile media events seemed more interested in free alcohol than the dangerous situation unfolding outside.
“So, there you have press members STEALING wine bottles: this is who the press is! Repugnant!” one user wrote while sharing the footage.
Others, however, defended the bottle-grabbing behavior and joked that with the price of attending such an upscale Washington event, taking home expensive wine may have been the only sensible move of the evening.
Regardless of where people stood, the video became symbolic of what critics say is the tone-deaf culture surrounding the political and media elite in Washington.
Meanwhile, the real danger that caused the chaos was no laughing matter.
As previously reported by The Gateway Pundit, authorities identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California.
Investigators say Allen allegedly stormed a security checkpoint armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives.
He reportedly exchanged gunfire with law enforcement officers during the confrontation. One Secret Service agent was struck during the shootout but was saved by a bulletproof vest.
President Trump later confirmed the agent had been hit and said the officer is expected to recover.
Officials also revealed that Allen allegedly left behind a manifesto targeting members of the Trump administration while mocking what he described as Secret Service “incompetence.”
The shocking incident raises serious new questions about security at major Washington events, especially those attended by top officials, journalists, and influential political figures.
Yet for many Americans watching from home, one image may linger longer than anything else: while brave officers risked their lives outside, some inside appeared focused on salvaging wine bottles and snapping selfies.
In one chaotic night, the White House Correspondents’ Dinner once again became a symbol of a disconnected ruling class — and the internet noticed immediately.
