Former President of the United States, Barack Obama has spoken out about the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD) for the first time.
To recap, the WHCD came to an abrupt end on April 25 when a man opened fire near a security checkpoint at the event, which was held in the ballroom at the Washington Hilton in DC. In an exchange of fire, a federal agent was hit, but his life was saved by his bulletproof vest. Meanwhile, in the ballroom, guests took cover on the ground as the likes of Donald Trump, Melania Trump, and other politicians were escorted out of the building.
The former President called on Americans to “reject” violence
In a powerful post on X/Twitter, Obama urged his fellow Americans to “reject” violence in response to the WHCD shooting.
“Although we don’t yet have the details about the motives behind last night’s shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner, it’s incumbent upon all [of] us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy,” the former president said.
“It’s also a sobering reminder of the courage and sacrifice that U.S. Secret Service Agents show every day,” he went on. “I’m grateful to them – and thankful that the agent who was shot is going to be okay.”
As for Trump’s response? “It’s a dangerous profession,” he said after the attack in an interview with 60 Minutes.
“I wasn’t worried,” the president went on. “I understand life. We live in a crazy world.”
Since the WHCD shooting, the suspect has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen. The 31-year-old is from Torrance, California and was staying at the hotel hosting the event on the night of the incident. After his arrest, the alleged shooter was found to have a shotgun, a handgun, and knives.
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