WASHINGTON — Duck, cover, and grab the wine!
In the midst of the turmoil following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, a woman was caught on video calmly collecting wine bottles. The incident unfolded as the chaos erupted at the Washington Hilton ballroom, prompting a mass exodus of reporters and other attendees. However, this unidentified woman, distinguished by her stylish black fur coat, made a beeline for a table laden with alcohol.
The shooting interrupted the evening early, coinciding with the salad course of the prestigious dinner, leaving numerous tables with untouched bottles of wine. This provided an opportunity for the woman to gather the abandoned libations.
The identity of the woman remains unknown, and it is unclear whether she was part of the press corps or attending in some other capacity.
Footage of her actions quickly gained traction online, sparking a debate among viewers. Opinions were divided; some criticized her actions as insensitive given the potential gravity of the situation if the gunman had not been subdued, while others viewed it as a pragmatic decision considering the high cost of attending such an upscale event.
Footage of the wine grab quickly went viral. But netizens were torn over whether snatching the wine was in poor taste given what could’ve been a tragic evening if the shooter wasn’t stopped, or a fiscally prudent move given the high price tag of the swanky dinner.
“So, there you have press members STEALING wine bottles: this is who the press is! Repugnant!” one user wrote, showing a video of the wine-loving attendee.
“How shameless, after the shooting incident, journalists are stealing liquor bottles in the same hall where President Donald Trump was also present,” a different user fumed.
“How is this stealing? They were placed on the tables for dinner. They were meant to be consumed. Everything was already paid for,” another poster wrote in defense of the pilfering.
Follow The Post’s live updates on the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
“Bro they paid $350+ a plate and the night got canceled early, free wine tax refund is fair game,” a user named Bullz wrote.
Other attendees were similarly caught exiting the ballroom with bottles of wine after chaos engulfed the marquee DC dinner.
CAA agent Michael Glantz also went viral for being seen on camera casually eating his salad while other attendees were hiding under the tables due to the shooting.
Saturday night’s annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner was interrupted by a deranged gunman who attempted to rush past security and opened fire before being pinned down by security.
Follow the latest on the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner:
Multiple shots were fired, but ultimately only one Secret Service officer suffered a minor injury after getting shot in their bulletproof vest.
Trump and cabinet officials were promptly evacuated from the dinner in response. It was the first White House Correspondents’ Dinner that Trump, 79, has attended as president.
The suspect, who has been identified as Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, Calif., attempted to breach the security perimeter to get to the ballroom where the dinner was taking place.
Technically, access to the Washington Hilton, which hosts the feted dinner, is only guarded by loose ticket checks. Those attending pre-dinner parties or staying at the hotel don’t get screened for weapons.
Screening for weapons happens before entering the ballroom itself.
Allen is facing two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime and one count of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, according to US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro.
He is set to be arraigned on April 27.
