White House Blames 'Left-wing Hate Cult' for Shooting at Correspondents' Dinner

WASHINGTON (CNA) – A shooting occurred at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner attended by U.S. President Donald Trump on the 25th. The White House today blamed the incident on what it called a 'left-wing hate cult.'

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that this was the third assassination attempt against the Republican president in the past two years. The suspect is scheduled to appear in court today.

Leavitt said: 'The left-wing hate cult has already caused many injuries and deaths against the President and all who support and work for him, and this weekend nearly led to another tragedy.'

Trump's rhetoric toward political rivals has frequently broken presidential norms, with critics claiming his talk is divisive and sometimes violent.

However, in a press conference minutes after the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner, Trump softened his tone toward the media, which he had previously called the 'enemy of the people.'

Leavitt said today that the 79-year-old president has long been 'systematically demonized.'

She said: 'In recent years, no one has faced more bullets and violence than President Trump... those who continue to falsely accuse and smear the president as a fascist and a threat to democracy, and compare him to Hitler for political gain, are precisely the ones fueling such violence.'

Reuters reported that Leavitt also confirmed White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles will convene a meeting with officials from the Department of Homeland Security, the Secret Service, and the White House operations team to 'ensure the safety and security of the President.'