“The View” co-host Ana Navarro urged renewed consideration of gun control measures during a Monday broadcast, referencing the recent shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., where President Donald Trump was present.
Navarro made the remarks following Saturday’s incident at the Washington Hilton, where a suspect allegedly opened fire during the annual gathering of journalists, government officials, and invited guests.
Authorities identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance, California.
He has been charged with discharging a firearm while committing a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer.
According to officials, Allen is expected to appear in court Monday.
Investigators said the suspect used firearms he had legally obtained in California, including a shotgun purchased in 2025 and a handgun purchased in 2023.
California law requires records of firearm sales to be maintained by the state and includes restrictions such as bans on certain firearms classified as “assault weapons” and limits on private sales.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting prompted a large law enforcement response and led to heightened security concerns surrounding public events attended by senior officials.
Secret Service agents quickly moved President Donald Trump and other officials to safety after gunfire erupted near a security checkpoint at the venue.
During Monday’s episode of “The View,” Navarro referenced the incident while discussing the broader issue of gun violence in the United States.
“That room was full of some of the most important political leaders in the country right now,” Navarro said, as co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin nodded in agreement.
Navarro compared the experience of those in attendance at the dinner to situations faced by students during school shootings.
“Now they know, they’ve lived it in their own flesh the fear that our school children go through. Now they know what it’s like to have to jump under a table the way that school children jump under a desk. And we are a country that is vulnerable to this. We have now seen shootings in malls, in churches, in temples, in Walmarts, in baseball fields.”
She also addressed past legislative debates following high-profile incidents.
“I still don’t understand how Congress took no action after Sandy Hook, after 20 children between the ages of six and seven were killed,” Navarro said.
“But maybe now that they have felt the fear themselves, they will do something.”
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The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting occurred in December 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children and six adults were killed.
The event has remained a central reference point in discussions over gun policy and legislative responses.
Organizations that advocate for stricter gun laws, including the Brady Campaign, Giffords, and Everytown, have frequently pointed to California’s regulations as among the most comprehensive in the country.
Despite those laws, officials confirmed that Allen obtained his firearms within the state through legal purchases.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, including the suspect’s actions leading up to the incident and any potential motives.
Law enforcement officials have indicated that the case may involve additional charges as the investigation progresses.
The incident has drawn national attention, prompting renewed debate over security measures, firearm policies, and the safety of large public gatherings involving government leaders and members of the media.