Former President Barack Obama weighed in on the gunfire at the White House Correspondents Dinner – but caught ire from conservatives for claiming details about the motives were still unknown.
“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 us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy,” he wrote on X Sunday afternoon.
“It’s also a sobering reminder of the courage and sacrifice that U.S. Secret Service Agents show every day. I’m grateful to them – and thankful that the agent who was shot is going to be okay.”
Online commentators quickly pointed out accused gunman Cole Allen had an anti-Trump manifesto that claimed he wanted to target officials in the administration.
“There is no ambiguity. It was a politically motivated attack driven by anti-Trump and anti-Christian bile. It’s wrong to downplay or obscure the obvious motive,” argued former spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin.
