Women taking bottles of champagne off table during WHCD shooting draws mixed reaction

WorldPolitics
28 Apr 2026 • 1:06 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Women taking bottles of champagne off table during WHCD shooting draws mixed reaction

  • The annual White House Correspondents Association dinner was evacuated after a suspected gunman, Cole Tomas Allen, attempted to storm the Washington Hilton, leading to President Trump and other officials being rushed out.
  • During the evacuation, a viral video captured several attendees picking up abandoned bottles of champagne and wine from tables, sparking a debate on social media.
  • Reactions to the video were mixed, with some viewers finding the opportunism relatable or humorous, saying “My hero,” while others condemned the behavior as “tacky” or “looting.”
  • The suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old computer programmer, was apprehended by the Secret Service and is set to be charged with firearms and assault offenses.
  • Investigators recovered a manifesto from Allen, sent to family members before the attack, in which he referred to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin” and expressed his animosity toward Trump.

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