Ben Stiller has been criticised after a tweet celebrating his beloved New York Knicks’ victory was misinterpreted as a response to the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington DC on Saturday. The actor posted “Got it done” about 20 minutes after a gunman opened fire at the hotel hosting the event, prompting President Donald Trump and his guests to be evacuated.
The timing of the post led to an outpouring of anger from Trump supporters, with Republican lawmaker Nancy Mace replying, “Got what done?” and former Kennedy Center director Richard Grenell writing simply, “Wtf?” One X user accused Stiller of supporting an assassination attempt, while another noted the “insane” timing.
However, other users defended Stiller, pointing out that he had been tweeting throughout the Knicks game against the Atlanta Hawks, which his team won 114-98. “Maga people are so stupid that they can't figure out that you are talking about the Knicks game,” one wrote. Stiller is a known critic of the Trump administration, but there is no evidence his tweets referenced the shooting.
The suspect, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California, has been charged with firearms and assault offences. He allegedly shot and injured a Secret Service agent, who has since been released from hospital. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the gunman appeared to have targeted Trump and his cabinet members.
The annual black-tie dinner was cancelled. Trump praised law enforcement for their swift response, writing on Truth Social that they “acted quickly and bravely”. He added he had recommended the event continue but would be guided by police.
