# Shots fired at White House Correspondents Dinner (Breaking News Thread) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** breaking-news, trump\ **Created:** [April 26, 2026, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558 "2026-04-26T01:53:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/41 "2026-04-27T01:16:21Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I have never seen any sort of security. From Quora: … \* **Checked Bags:** While not always scanned, they are handled by staff, tagged, and subject to inspection. - **Security Measures:** Random bag checks, passenger/luggage swabs, and police K-9 units focusing on explosives are used, primarily during high-traffic times. - From Amtrak: Yes, the **Amtrak Police Department (APD)** employs plainclothes/undercover officers and conducts low-visibility counter-surveillance on trains and in stations nationwide. These officers, part of a force of over 397 sworn personnel, conduct investigations, monitor for suspicious activity, and perform special operations to ensure security. [image]Amtrak +2 Key details regarding Amtrak undercover operations: - **Purpose:** Undercover operations are used for criminal investigations, anti-terrorism efforts, and drug trafficking interdiction. - **Locations:** Undercover and uniformed, high-visibility patrols are frequent in busy areas like the **Northeast Corridor (NYC Penn Station)** and at major stations. - **Tactics:** Reports indicate undercover officers have conducted sting operations, including in, bathrooms. - **Partnerships:** APD often partners with local law enforcement, federal agents, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and B And no, you might not see them, that is often the point, just like undercover police and federal agents. I have been on trains when drug dogs are brought on board. I’ve also been aboard when the train stops at a crossing in the middle of nowhere and is met by a sheriff’s deputy or state trooper and miscreants are spirited away. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/42 "2026-04-27T01:33:28Z")
Since it’s entirely legal to transport weapons and ammunition on Amtrak trains, as long as you follow the rules, Allen may have transported the weapons all the way from his home to his hotel room and not broken a single law. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/43 "2026-04-27T15:44:24Z")
I had to laugh at Trump’s interview with (I think) Norah O’Donnell right after it happened. She asked him for a response about the manifesto wherein the shooter made a reference to “rapists, pedophiles”, etc. Trump launched into an immediate diatribe, calling her the worst reporter, etc., and saying: “I’m not a rapist or a pedophile. . .”, to which the reporter followed up with “What makes you think he was referring to you?” 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/44 "2026-04-27T17:00:51Z")
Okay, silly question time. I’ve seen this picture of Allen right after he was arrested. [![](https://external-ord5-3.xx.fbcdn.net/emg1/v/t13/6721615036290273222?url=https%3A%2F%2Fkubrick.htvapps.com%2Fvidthumb%2F7dfb03ba-0456-48bc-aa2b-68f7fd40c797%2Fd60cdc59-24dc-4c74-a87e-e9b74c5025e7.jpg%3Fcrop%3D1.00xw%253A0.753xh%253B0%252C0%26resize%3D1200%253A%252A&fb_obo=1&utld=htvapps.com&stp=c0.5000x0.5000f_dst-jpg_flffffff_p500x261_q75_tt6&_nc_gid=iJUMUGwiL_Ruba26LmRX2Q&_nc_oc=Adr1fZmu7bmqQH3kC8Qqu4anzDZgkS5QnKS5iebUUOqlNFcB7jXexIY6A1CiGlhr-4eUL2dVkweHqOcmINp5oVxL&ccb=13-1&oh=06_Q3--ATHDxcBR7Szupj3ULm1kcNaUKtgqitD4DehXLMk6Q1wf&oe=69F1640D&_nc_sid=c63717) ](https://external-ord5-3.xx.fbcdn.net/emg1/v/t13/6721615036290273222?url=https%3A%2F%2Fkubrick.htvapps.com%2Fvidthumb%2F7dfb03ba-0456-48bc-aa2b-68f7fd40c797%2Fd60cdc59-24dc-4c74-a87e-e9b74c5025e7.jpg%3Fcrop%3D1.00xw%253A0.753xh%253B0%252C0%26resize%3D1200%253A%252A&fb_obo=1&utld=htvapps.com&stp=c0.5000x0.5000f_dst-jpg_flffffff_p500x261_q75_tt6&_nc_gid=iJUMUGwiL_Ruba26LmRX2Q&_nc_oc=Adr1fZmu7bmqQH3kC8Qqu4anzDZgkS5QnKS5iebUUOqlNFcB7jXexIY6A1CiGlhr-4eUL2dVkweHqOcmINp5oVxL&ccb=13-1&oh=06_Q3--ATHDxcBR7Szupj3ULm1kcNaUKtgqitD4DehXLMk6Q1wf&oe=69F1640D&_nc_sid=c63717) He’s not wearing a shirt. Did the Secret Service/police strip him down as part of the arrest procedure? Or did he show up half-naked for his moment of destiny ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/45 "2026-04-27T17:07:43Z")
I’m almost certain that they stripped him down to make sure he did not have explosives strapped to his body. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/46 "2026-04-27T18:13:12Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > In _Better Call Saul_, Mike took the train from Philadelphia to Albuquerque after getting shot in the shoulder. And in _The Town_, Doug took Amtrak from Boston to Miami after the climactic heist. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/47 "2026-04-27T19:15:56Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I had to laugh at Trump’s interview with (I think) Norah O’Donnell right after it happened. She asked him for a response about the manifesto wherein the shooter made a reference to “rapists, pedophiles”, etc. Trump launched into an immediate diatribe, calling her the worst reporter, etc., and saying: “I’m not a rapist or a pedophile. . .”, to which the reporter followed up with “What makes you think he was referring to you?” 😆 “The wicked flee when no man pursueth”. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/48 "2026-04-27T19:39:22Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > I’m almost certain that they stripped him down to make sure he did not have explosives strapped to his body. It seems strange they would pose him for pictures afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/49 "2026-04-27T22:53:53Z")
[![](https://i.imgur.com/a1VOOsz.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/a1VOOsz.png) > **[Reagan Shooter John Hinckley Says D.C. Hilton Not Secure, WHCD Shooting...](https://www.tmz.com/2026/04/27/john-hinckley-says-washington-hilton-not-secure-after-shooting/?adid=social-tw)** > > John Hinckley -- the man who shot then-President Ronald Reagan in 1981 -- says the Washington Hilton Hotel should stop holding big events because it's not secure, and bad things keep happening there ... just like at Saturday night's White House... ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/50 "2026-04-27T23:10:24Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > And note that he was eating a burrata salad. Good for him. I’d risk my life for a burrata salad, too. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/51 "2026-04-27T23:11:16Z")
I don’t think this was posted yet. He was ‘officially’ (and allegedly) after the Trump admin, excluding Kash Patel. [![](https://i.imgur.com/uGmW0fW.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/uGmW0fW.png) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/52 "2026-04-27T23:17:43Z")
That’s quite the document. Thanks for posting it. I must say, it is quite well-written and clear. But I wonder why he was not targeting Kash Patel? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/53 "2026-04-28T00:04:08Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > But I wonder why he was not targeting Kash Patel? Not just ‘not targeting’ but went out of his way to mention it. I have no idea why, and ‘the internet’ doesn’t know yet either. I’m seeing (entirely made up) guesses ranging from it being staged by Patel to the shooter assuming Patel would be fired soon anyways. Regardless, nothing I’ve seen makes any sense since, even on the assumption that he actually didn’t plan to target Patel, he could have left that line out and just not shot him. My first thought was that he was avoiding LEOs, to the extent that Patel is considered an LEO. But he mentioned secret service, police, National Guard and even hotel security as being targets (in ‘self defense’, but targets nonetheless), so not that. I’m guessing he had specific people (more specific than just ‘administration officials’) he was after and was, for lack of a better way to say it, going out of his way to minimize collateral damage. Down to using a shotgun in hopes the buckshot wouldn’t go through walls and hurt other people as well as giving LEOs with bullet proof vests a better chance of surviving. But, again, why single out Patel? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/54 "2026-04-28T02:02:09Z")
The thing in picture 3 looks like one of those old people shoehorns. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/55 "2026-04-28T02:21:19Z")
I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve heard from Sirhan Sirhan. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/56 "2026-04-28T02:34:57Z")
Denied parole 17 times and still in prison. After hearing #16, parole was denied by Gov. Gavin Newsom. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/57 "2026-04-28T03:45:00Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve heard from Sirhan Sirhan. That was murder; not an attempted assassination. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/58 "2026-04-30T21:40:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It seems strange they would pose him for pictures afterwards. Nah… it was the same as a perp walk. Cops love to embarrass suspects and show off their work. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558/59 "2026-07-24T13:33:10Z")
The correspondents’ dinner is being held tonight at the Waldorf-Astoria in Washington, unlike the earlier dinner at the Hilton. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-breaking-news-thread/1029558.md?page=2)