Security, rhetoric under microscope in aftermath of WHCA Dinner attack
Questions over event security and the nation’s political rhetoric are taking center stage after the attack tied to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, as fallout grows over how the incident unfolded and how public figures are responding in its wake.
Erika Kirk to address WHCA dinner, 'political violence': 'Enough is enough'
The widow of Charlie Kirk is opening up with concerns about continued political violence just days after the traumatic White House Correspondents Association Dinner.
"Saturday was yet another traumatic example of the evil in our country and the continued rise in political violence," Erika Kirk wrote Monday night on X. "I’m taking time to spend with my family.
"I will be joining The Charlie Kirk Show Wednesday at 12PM ET to briefly address what took place. Enough is enough."
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles will meet with leaders from the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security to examine lessons from the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner attack, officials said Monday.
The White House is reviewing how best to protect President Donald Trump after Saturday’s shooting raised fresh questions about the security measures surrounding the nation’s leaders.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to detail what changes might come but vowed the administration is remaining vigilant against the "left-wing cult of hatred" aimed at the president and the Cabinet.
“These conversations will take place in private, but if adjustments need to be made to protect the president, they will be made,” Leavitt told reporters at Monday's press briefing.
Jimmy Kimmel doubles down on Melania 'expectant widow' joke, says critics misconstrued remark
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel used his opening monologue of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Monday night to issue an non-apology of his "roast" of first lady Melania Trump, saying his joke about her being "an expectant widow" was misconstrued.
"It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he's almost 80 and she's younger than I am," Kimmel said. "It was not – by any stretch of the definition – a call to assassination."
Kimmel acknowledged being under President Donald Trump's scrutiny, this time from joking about the first lady becoming a "widow" just days before a would-be assassin was stopped by U.S. Secret Service outside the doors of the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night.
"You know how sometimes you wake up in the morning and the first lady puts out a statement demanding you be fired from your job?" Kimmel's monologue began. "We’ve all been there, right?”
Kimmel then continued to criticize the first lady, doubling down on political rhetoric after Trump warnings.
“Obviously, it was a joke about their age difference and the look of joy we see on her face every time they’re together,” he said, adding "they know that" was not a joke about "assassination" but Trump dying of old age.
Kimmel also added he understands the "stress" of being Trump's first lady.
“But I understand that the first lady had a stressful experience over the weekend, and probably every weekend is pretty stressful in that house,” he continued. “And also, I agree that hateful and violent rhetoric is something we should reject. I do, and I think a great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband about it.
"Donald Trump is allowed to say whatever he wants to say, as are you and as am I. Because under the First Amendment, we have, as Americans, a right to free speech.”
Kimmel did apologize to the media that was impacted by the assassination attempt, though, saying he was “sorry” for everyone at the dinner.
“Just because no one got killed doesn’t mean it wasn’t traumatic and scary, and we should come together," he said. "We really should
“But, if you want us to believe that a joke I made three days before this dinner had any effect on anything that happened, well then, maybe someone should look into this psychic lady too.”
Kimmel then blamed White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in saying Trump will be roasting his media critics: "There will be shots fired."
Leavitt was referring to the nature of the WCHA Dinner, which is a "roast" of critics in a fun-loving tone.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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