The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, gave a speech after the recent White House Correspondents Association’s (WHCD) dinner shooting, blaming Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries for the incident. The House Minority leader has since responded. He fired back at Leavitt’s claims, accusing her of lying.
Hakeem Jeffries slams Karoline Leavitt after her comment
Following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD), Karoline Leavitt addressed the press, blaming Democrats for the attack. She also brought up critical remarks from several members of the Republicans’ rival party, including Hakeem Jeffries, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Senator Adam Schiff, directed at the Trump administration.
Leavitt accused them of “calling for war” against President Donald Trump and his supporters and for inspiring violence from “mentally ill” people through their rhetoric.
Jeffries responded to Leavitt’s claims, labeling her a “disgrace” and a “stone-cold liar.” He highlighted her hypocrisy, saying she dared to read “talking points” about critical statements he and other Democrats made against the Trump administration, which he clarified were “taken out of context,” while being silent on MAGA extremists’ actions, like offering aid and comfort to “violent insurrectionists” who brutally attacked police officers on January 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol (via The Hill).
The attack took place on April 25, 2026. An armed individual reportedly fired gunshots near the main security screening area at the Washington Hilton. Secret Service evacuated Trump, his wife, Melania, Vice President JD Vance, and Cabinet members to safety. Notably, an agent got shot during the attack but was saved by their bulletproof vest.
Law enforcement officials eventually found and arrested the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California. The U.S. District Court arraigned him on Monday, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, on three criminal counts:
- Attempt to assassinate the United States President,
- Transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with the intent to commit a felony
- Using a firearm during a crime of violence
The incident marked the third and latest assassination attempt on Donald Trump. He was previously the target of two different attempts on his life. One was in July 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, the other was at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September 2024.
Originally reported by Abdul Azim Naushad on Mandatory.
