While panic spread through the Washington Hilton ballroom during the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, one moment quickly took on a life of its own online.
On Saturday night during the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton, Donald Trump, Melania Trump, and several others were escorted out of the ballroom after gunfire was reported.
Authorities quickly brought the situation under control and confirmed that Trump and all individuals under protection were unharmed. The suspected gunman, Cole Thomas Allen, was allegedly armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives, exchanging gunfire with law enforcement before being taken down and arrested.
As guests and reporters exited the room, a woman was caught on camera calmly collecting bottles of wine from nearby tables.
“How shameless”
The unidentified blonde was seen walking directly to a table and gathering multiple bottles as chaos unfolded around her.
The shooting occurred early in the evening, meaning many tables still had untouched wine. It is not known whether she attended as a journalist or a guest.
Once the footage circulated online, reactions were immediate and divided. Some criticized what they saw as inappropriate behavior given the seriousness of the situation.
“So, there you have press members STEALING wine bottles: this is who the press is! Repugnant!” one user wrote, according to the New York Post.
“How shameless, after the shooting incident, journalists are stealing liquor bottles in the same hall where President Donald Trump was also present,” another added.
Some are defending her
Others defended the actions, arguing that the wine had already been paid for and left on the tables.
“How is this stealing? They were placed on the tables for dinner. They were meant to be consumed. Everything was already paid for,” one person wrote.
“Bro they paid $350+ a plate and the night got canceled early, free wine tax refund is fair game,” another user commented.
The woman was not the only attendee seen leaving with bottles, as others were also spotted exiting the ballroom with wine during the unfolding situation.
Authorities have confirmed that the suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, is facing two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime and one count of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, according to U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro.
