This year’s event as we all know by now was interrupted by an assassination attempt on President Trump (and his cabinet). Of course, the hapless attempt has led to false flag conspiracy theories but I, for one, believe the attempt was real.

However, let’s just say some of the behavior by the elite journalists, cabinet members and their significant others, didn’t exactly show off the best of Americana. And of course The Daily Show and political satirist Jon Stewart lampooned it in grand style.

As many hurriedly exited the room or ducked under tables for cover, it did lead to some unintentionally funny moments. It wasn’t just personal belongings the attendees tried to take with them as cameras spotted one woman putting two wine bottles in a handbag. It caused Stewart to quip, “if only I had more time, I could have saved the rose”.

Another absurd moment was talent agent Michael Glantz, who I’m not sure why he was there in the first place, calmly eating his salad while the rest of his table mates hovered underneath their table. But give Glantz credit: He was the only one seemingly aware that there was no real threat as the shooter had long been subdued. So why not chow down on some overpriced banquet food?

Stewart, as well as other comedians, pointed out other strange moments as members of Trump’s cabinet either made quick exits solo or were escorted out by the Secret Service. As several members of the Secret Service encircled Robert F. Kennedy Jr. taking him from his table on the floor across the higher stage area, Kennedy Jr.’s wife Cheryl Hines had no escort as she walked behind the cocoon desperately reaching out for assistance.

This caused Stewart to remark that no “worker bees could be spared for her.” As Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller brisked his own pregnant wife Katie to safety, Stewart then joked that Kennedy Jr. needed to be “more like Miller” rather than “beating his wife to the escape pod.”

Embattled FBI Director Kash Patel didn’t escape the wrath of comedians who have made fun of reports of his girlfriend allegedly hiding in a closet where someone was holding her hand and caressing her arm. But much props needs to be given to Vice President J.D. Vance who made the quickest exit of anyone.

Of course, the scope of what an actual journalist is has changed. This isn’t just a dinner for the most elite old school newspapers like the Washington Post or New York Times as apparently conservative social media influencers of note such as Debra Lea can earn an invite. And why not report the event while also making a duck face selfie pose to communicate the terror of it all?

In past White House Correspondence Dinners usually a comedian hosts and roasts the President, members of the cabinet and the media itself. But the 2026 event featured mentalist Oz Pearlman. He didn’t get to do his show so to speak, but during the dinner was entertaining White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt who is expecting her first baby this month. Just moments before the actual assassination attempt, Pearlman was trying to mentalist his way to the name of the expectant infant. But Stewart humorously, and correctly surmised, that if Pearlman was such a great mentalist, maybe he could have sensed danger and written on the card telling Leavitt and others “to run away.”

In a more serious vein, praise needs to be given to the Secret Service and other security forces that took down the would-be assassin Cole Tomas Allen. But at the same time, one has to wonder how Allen was able to bring several weapons into the Washington Hilton Hotel in the first place. It seemed reminiscent of the Las Vegas shooter of October 2017 who brought in several boxes and pieces of luggage that contained a small arsenal which led to a mass shooting taking 60 lives and injuring nearly 900 others.

Having a friend that worked as a general manager for the Marriott hotel chain, and who has dealt with the arrival of a President to lodge there, he noted that security measures were intensive and started way ahead of the President’s arrival. Rooms are thoroughly searched, guests are asked to vacate their rooms and entire floors, usually the top two, are reserved for the President and the Secret Service detail. So while the Secret Service dealt with the actual attack decently enough, the preparation before seems a bit lacking. And of course all of this feeds into conspiracy theories that this was all staged.

Within an hour, a press conference was held and Trump praised the Secret Service in his own bizarre Trump way and then justified the construction of the ballroom for events like this. I won’t debate the need for a ballroom other than pointing out how all monies were supposedly to come from private donors but now a House bill has come forth asking for one billion dollars for the project. The cost going beyond the initial $200 million estimate, and now asking to use public dollars for its construction, is indeed an interesting development.

Yes, perhaps a ballroom could be used for large events where the President hosts foreign dignitaries and so forth. And while Allen thankfully wasn’t successful in his quest to kill the President and other members of the cabinet while risking the lives of many others, perhaps a silver lining of his attempt is that it could bring an end to this particular event which has run well past its usefulness.

Brian E. Preece is a retired social studies educator and coach. As a wrestling coach, he was named as the 2006 Utah Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. He has also co-authored three books and has been a sports journalist for parts of five decades.