Stephen A. Smith Challenges Trump’s Call for Calm After WHCD Shooting
His rebuke spotlights mounting pressure for real steps to cool political speech after a shooting at a high‑profile press dinner.
Overview
- At the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton, a gunman rushed a security checkpoint, shot a Secret Service officer, and prompted the evacuation of President Donald Trump and other attendees as the event was later rescheduled.
- Cole Thomas (Tomas) Allen, 31, was arrested at the scene and charged in federal court with attempting to assassinate the President and related firearm offenses, with the top count carrying a possible life sentence.
- Federal officials said Allen stated he intended to target Trump administration officials, prepared a manifesto, and posted anti‑Trump and anti‑Christian rhetoric on social media.
- Stephen A. Smith, who attended the dinner, said Trump should “practice what you preach,” urged politicians and media to stop giving “lip service” to civility, and praised Hakeem Jeffries for pressing Republicans to police their own extremists.
- Smith also questioned the venue choice and said a secured White House ballroom would make more sense, as coverage split with Fox News emphasizing investigators’ claims and security concerns while Mediaite and TheWrap focused on his critique of Trump’s rhetoric.