President Donald Trump called on Americans to resolve their differences peacefully during a brief impromptu press briefing Saturday evening, shortly after the U.S. Secret Service escorted him back to the White House after a shooter brought an abrupt end to the White House Correspondents Association dinner at the nearby Washington Hilton Hotel.
"That was very unexpected, but incredibly acted upon by Secret Service and law
enforcement," said Trump, who was still dressed in a tuxedo while flanked by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel.
"This was an event dedicated to freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both parties with members of the press, and in a certain way, it did," he said. "I saw a room that was just totally unified. It was, in a way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing to see."
After praising the quick response of the U.S. Secret Service in subduing the shooter, who has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, Trump went on to strike a defiant tone during his remarks, saying he "fought like hell to stay" at the dinner but had to defer to security protocol.
Trump described the shooter as a "thug that attacked our Constitution," and praised the Secret Service and law enforcement who "acted on our country's behalf, really did a great job." He said one officer was shot, but is "doing great" after being "saved by the fact that he was wearing an obviously a very good bulletproof vest."
Noting the Saturday shooting is the latest in a series of similar incidents in recent years, Trump went on to ask "that all Americans recommit with their hearts and resolve our differences peacefully."
"We have to. We have to resolve our differences," he said.
Calling the shooter "a sick person, very sick person," Trump framed the incident as an attack against an event that symbolized "free speech and our Constitution," and assured that the WCHA dinner would be rescheduled.
"We're not going to let anybody take over our society. We're not going to cancel things out, because we can't do that," he said, adding that the incident also showed the necessity of the ballroom he has been building on the former site of the East Wing.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche then took to the podium, saying, "Mr. president, tonight you saw the very worst and the very best of this country."
"You saw the very worst by the actions of that coward that the president just talked about, but you also saw the very best, because you saw law enforcement do exactly what they're supposed to do," he said, adding that charges would shortly be filed against the suspect and that justice would be served.
FBI Director Kash Patel likewise praised the swift response of law enforcement, whose "best result" he said was because they were inspired by Trump's example and support.
Trump then took questions from the press in the briefing room, most of whom were also still in their formal attire after coming from the dinner at the Hilton, where former President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.
Trump took his first question from CBS News Senior White House Correspondent Weijia Jiang, who also serves as president of the White House Correspondents Association and was seated next to him when the Secret Service whisked him from the dais. She appeared to help him when he stumbled as he was being escorted out and then crawled to safety herself, according to footage.
When asked what was going through his mind when shots rang out, Trump said he first thought it was a tray dropping, but soon understood otherwise. He reiterated that he wanted to continue with the event, but was prohibited by the Secret Service.
"We very much wanted to continue it, because I don't like to let these sick people, these thugs, these horrible, horrible people, change the fabric of our life, change the course of what we do," he said.
When asked by Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Peter Doocy why he keeps being subjected to assassination attempts, Trump suggested assassins tend to target "the most impactful people, the people who do the most."
"I hate to say I'm honored by that, but we've taken this country, and we were a laughingstock for years, and now we're the hottest country anywhere in the world," he said. "We've changed this country, and a lot of people are not happy about that."
Regarding whether he is concerned about political violence, Trump said he is concerned about violence of all kinds, but that danger comes with the presidency.
"I can't be so concerned that you can't function. I'm here. It's a dangerous profession," he said.
Originally published by The Christian Post
