Video from inside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has drawn widespread attention after showing a woman collecting bottles of wine during the chaotic aftermath of a shooting that interrupted the event Saturday night, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
The footage shows an unidentified blonde woman wearing a black fur coat moving toward a table and gathering multiple bottles of wine as other attendees evacuated the ballroom at the Washington Hilton.
The incident occurred during the early portion of the dinner, when guests were still being served salad, leaving numerous unopened bottles on tables throughout the venue.
Woman Seen Snatching Wine Bottles During Chaos After White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shootinghttps://t.co/nFuRZxVBnA [2]
— EMPIntelligenceNet© (@Megavolts001) April 28, 2026 [3]
The woman’s identity has not been confirmed, and it remains unclear whether she was a member of the press or another guest attending the event.
Video clips of the moment circulated quickly on social media, prompting mixed reactions. Some users criticized the actions seen in the footage, while others argued that the items had already been provided as part of the event.
The President almost just got assassinated and members of the media are using the opportunity to steal bottles of wine.
You don’t hate them enough! pic.twitter.com/M2hEwx6tIr [4]
— Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) April 26, 2026 [5]
“So, there you have press members STEALING wine bottles: this is who the press is! Repugnant!” one user wrote while sharing the video.
“How shameless, after the shooting incident, journalists are stealing liquor bottles in the same hall where President Donald Trump was also present,” another user posted.
Others pushed back on those criticisms.
“How is this stealing? They were placed on the tables for dinner. They were meant to be consumed. Everything was already paid for,” one commenter wrote.
“Bro they paid $350+ a plate and the night got canceled early, free wine tax refund is fair game,” a user identified as Bullz added.
Additional footage showed other attendees also leaving the ballroom carrying bottles of wine as the scene unfolded.
The dinner was interrupted when authorities say Cole Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, attempted to breach security and opened fire inside the venue. Law enforcement officers subdued him at the scene.
Officials said multiple shots were fired during the incident. One U.S. Secret Service officer sustained a minor injury after being struck in a bulletproof vest. No other injuries were immediately reported.
Donald Trump, who was attending the dinner along with cabinet officials, was evacuated along with others as a precaution. The event marked the first time Trump, 79, attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner while serving as president.
Security protocols at the venue were also noted following the incident. While access to the hotel itself is managed through ticket checks, guests attending pre-dinner events or staying at the hotel are not screened for weapons until entering the ballroom area.
Allen has been charged with two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, according to U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro. He is scheduled to be arraigned on April 27.
Separate footage from inside the ballroom also showed CAA agent Michael Glantz continuing to eat his meal while others took cover during the incident, adding to the volume of videos that have circulated in the aftermath.
The investigation into the shooting and the circumstances surrounding the event remains ongoing.