Actress Patricia Heaton has urged her liberal friends to pull back on extreme rhetoric after the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were among the top US government officials evacuated from the Washington Hilton after shots were fired near the ballroom in an exchange between a gunman and Secret Service agents in the lobby.
Suspect and Attack Details
Suspect Cole Allen, 31, is alleged to have fired multiple rounds but struck only one person, a Secret Service member, before being subdued and taken into custody. The following morning, Heaton, 68, best known for her role on the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn liberals who use extreme language and promote violence against political adversaries.
Heaton's Call for Unity
Heaton, a prominent conservative voice in Hollywood, has been outspoken in her support of Republican policies, pro-life views, and Christian faith. She expressed optimism for Trump's administration while advocating for national unity. In her post, she wrote: 'I wasn’t happy when Clinton, Obama or Biden won, but I didn’t call them fascist/dangerous/threat to democracy. I didn’t hope someone would assassinate them. I went on with my life with gratitude. Friends on the left, please try this. Your life and our country will be better.'
Manifesto and Security Concerns
Authorities discovered that Allen wrote a chilling manifesto before arriving at the Washington Hilton. In it, he detailed his reasoning for the attack, his 'rules of engagement,' and a rant about the lack of security. He mocked the event's security, writing: 'What the hell is the Secret Service doing? I expected security cameras at every bend, bugged hotel rooms, armed agents every 10 feet, metal detectors out the wazoo. What I got is nothing.' Allen also mentioned a 'sense of arrogance' at the hotel, noting that security was all outside, and questioned why no one considered someone checking in the day before.
Response and Aftermath
Trump, still wearing his tuxedo, addressed the nation two hours later, stating, 'When you're impactful, they go after you. We're not going to let anybody take over our society.' The White House confirmed the dinner will be rescheduled within 30 days. Allen's brother alerted police after receiving disturbing writings, but the manifesto did not specifically mention the dinner. Trump criticized the delay in federal notification. The suspect's sister was also interviewed by authorities. The ballroom, filled with journalists, celebrities, and Cabinet members, became chaotic as guests huddled under tables while Secret Service patrolled.
