Philly-area politicians express relief, gratitude to the Secret Service for handling the correspondents’ dinner shooting
Two governors, two senators, and others expressed relief that President Donald Trump and others were not harmed.
Politicians representing Pennsylvania and New Jersey praised law enforcement and expressed relief that President Donald Trump and members of his administration weren’t injured in the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in a Washington hotel Saturday night.
Secret Service agents whisked Trump to safety as gunfire was ringing out in the Washington Hilton during the event, which is still being investigated. The alleged shooter, who is believed to have been targeting Trump, is in custody.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wrote on X Saturday night, “I’m grateful for law enforcement and the Secret Service’s quick action to keep the President, Cabinet, lawmakers, the press, and everyone in attendance tonight at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner safe... . One thing is for certain: political violence is never okay — and it has no place in this country."
Shapiro was himself the object of an attack after a Passover celebration in 2025 when a man broke into the governor’s mansion and set it on fire while the governor and his family slept.
After thanking the Secret Service, Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican who’s challenging Shapiro, posted on X Saturday night, “We solve our disagreements in America through debate, and the First Amendment that is being celebrated this evening. Violence has no place in our political discourse.”
In her statement released Sunday, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill singled out the “brave Secret Service agent” who reportedly was shot and, according to Trump, saved by his protective vest. The agent was reported to be in good condition.
“Plain and simple, political violence should not be the answer in a democracy,” Sherrill, a Democrat, concluded.
After expressing gratitude that Trump and others at the dinner were safe, Sen. Dave McCormick (R., Pa.) also praised the Secret Service and law enforcement. He added, “Praying for our country.”
On Sunday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a Republican whose district includes several South Jersey counties, referred to accused gunman Cole Tomas Allen’s alleged animus toward Trump and his administration: “It is truly sick and evil to wish death or physical harm on anyone because of political differences. I am praying for our President and our entire country.”
McCormick’s Senate colleague, Democrat John Fetterman, echoed Trump’s assertion that the incident underscored the need for the completion of the contentious White House ballroom. Construction of the $400 million project has been halted by a federal judge.
“We were there front and center,” Fetterman said on X, referencing his presence at the Hilton on Saturday night. He exhorted people to “drop the TDS,” short for Trump Derangement Syndrome, a derogatory term often used by Trump supporters to describe critics of the president. He added that the administration should “build the White House ballroom for events like these.”
It wasn’t clear that a dinner sponsored by the White House Correspondents’ Association would have been held in a White House ballroom. Fetterman said the Hilton was the wrong venue to host an event with the president and others in the line of succession.
President Ronald Reagan was shot outside the Hilton in 1981.
U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, a Democrat who represents, among other neighborhoods, Northwest and West Philadelphia, issued a statement Sunday that challenged Fetterman’s post, saying that while “political violence is always wrong ... this shouldn’t be used as an excuse to build an unnecessary ballroom. The president should instead focus on ending his unnecessary war.”
After the events Saturday night, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee requested a briefing from the Secret Service, Politico reported.
That same committee held a hearing about the attempt on Trump’s life in Butler, Pa., in 2024.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Chester County, who was part of a task force looking into the Butler shooting, issued a statement Saturday night, thanking the “brave law enforcement officers” and adding, “We must continue to take a stand against political violence and condemn it on all fronts.”
At the dinner Saturday night were several tables of individuals from NBCUniversal Media as well as executives from Comcast, headquartered in Philadelphia, a person familiar with the event said. They didn’t provide details.
