Trump deserves a Purple Heart for being wounded in action. A third would-be assassin attempted but failed to kill him Saturday night. As you know the deeply troubling event happened on live television. Thankfully this time neither the President nor any of the attendees was hurt.
As he did during and following all three attempts, the President responded with true cool and courage. I was proud of him, and of the security folks who stopped the assailant, and ushered the President and his Cabinet to safety. Typically, our master showman didn’t miss a beat. As soon as it was clear he had not been hurt, he proposed restarting the show. I tweeted about the events as they unfolded.
“Trump wanted to show to go on because he has balls. He, the first lady, and everyone else is safe. Someone is in custody. Trump wanted the show to go on because he doesn’t want the bad guys to win.”
The deranged gunman was captured in the act, and was shortly identified as Cole Allen, a 31-year-old California teacher who sent his family a manifesto 10 minutes before Saturday’s attack. In his bizarre rant he apologizes ‘to his parents, colleagues and students and to all who suffered before I was able to attempt this…’ From my point of view, I was also relieved that the shooter was neither Latino nor an immigrant, two groups recently singled out by activists for disproportionate criticism.
“Fuck the assailant. Still, unnerving that a punk managed to penetrate our formidable security apparatus. Questions to answer, but thankfully all are safe.”
Wife Erica and I have attended at least a half dozen of these grand events. Playfully called The Nerd Prom, the White House Correspondents Dinner gives journalists and celebrity guests a chance to mingle with presidents and potentates. I have had the honor of dining with Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, rocker Jon Bon Jovi and Astronaut Buzz Aldrin among others.
We were there in 2011 when my old pal Donald Trump was cruelly ridiculed by Barack Obama for his then just announced presidential ambitions. But the reporters present at the ball are the true VIP’s. And talk about being in the right place at the right time, CNN’s old lion Wolf Blitzer was the man of the moment when the shots rang out.
“CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer shaken but still coolly reporting the extraordinary peril the president and cabinet survived unscathed. A shooter inside one of the most secure areas on earth. It is a stunning event.”
The aftermath of the event raised serious questions about safety for participants. Virtually the entire Cabinet was present, and it was deeply disturbing to ponder the possible loss of everyone from the President and First Lady to Vice President J.D. Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
They were all there, all potential targets in an old ballroom that is obviously difficult to protect. Which brings me to the $400 billion-dollar, monumental White House Ballroom advocated by the President, but held up in court.
“Build the ballroom. I felt I was watching Designated Survivor. Virtually the entire line of presidential succession was in that lame Hilton space. Way too freaky dangerous. Build the Ballroom.”
Build the Ballroom.
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