‘Sense of disbelief’: how White House press dinner attack unfolded – The Latest
4/27/202610 min
Details about the shooting at the White House correspondents gala have started to surface as the alleged shooter is set to be charged. The suspect was able to get close to where Donald Trump and many other senior officials were gathered, before law enforcement stopped him. It happened less than two years since Trump was the target of an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, and a subsequent attempt at a golf course in Florida. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s Washington bureau chief David Smith, who was in attendance – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
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First 90 secondsLucy Hough· Host0:00
This is the Guardian.
David Smith· Guest0:01
[gentle music] Biggest thing I remember was just being utterly sort of confused and that sense of commotion. [objects clattering] Trump seizing this moment for his own political advantage turned this into an, an advert for his four hundred million dollar ballroom at the White House.
Lucy Hough· Host0:29
I didn't wanna say this, but, uh, this is why we have to have the ballroom. That's why Secret Service, that's why the military are demanding it.
David Smith· Guest0:36
What journalists experienced on Saturday night is, is frankly what, uh, millions of Americans have in town halls, in, in churches, uh, even in, uh, schools. Political violence does remain in America a real characteristic of the Trump era.
Lucy Hough· Host0:51
The shooting at the White House Correspondents' Gala in Washington over the weekend has raised serious questions about how the suspect was able to get so close to the president. We speak to a reporter who was there. From The Guardian's Today in Focus, this is the latest with me, Lucy Hough. Well, dialing in is David Smith, our Washington bureau chief. David, thanks for joining us. You were at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday in Washington. Let's start by, uh, can you just describe how it all unfolded and, and what it was like for you being in that room?
David Smith· Guest1:26
Yeah, it's great to be here. This is, uh, an annual dinner