The internet has reacted to a viral video of journalists grabbing booze amid the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting. The shooting took place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, and featured many high-profile diplomats and journalists in attendance.
An account on X shared a video of journalists grabbing bottles of champagne and wine amid the evacuation. One unidentified journalist was even seen casually taking bottles of champagne off the table before leaving amid the evacuation.
Others were seen holding different wine bottles and posing for selfies just moments after the shooting. The internet was in an outrage over their behavior and responded accordingly.
Amid an armed attack, American journalists grabbed expensive wine bottles ??
— Zulfiqar Siddiquizada???????? (@SiddiquiZadaa) April 26, 2026
Seems some never miss a chance at free valuables. pic.twitter.com/H6fbZUhHHZ
When a curious netizen asked if they’d paid to attend the dinner, another replied saying, “No clue. But even if they did, it doesn’t give them the right to steal wine.”
Another internet user claimed, “What’s even more disgusting is the selfie-taking in the background!”
One more said, “Right, just shows they have no moral compass whatsoever…They couldn't care less about what is right and just.” Similarly, an X user sarcastically added, “Better stealing wine than grinning for selfies…”
Priorities level: elite ?
— Ravish Pal Singh (@ReporterRavish) April 26, 2026
Shots fired? Chaos everywhere? Doesn’t matter. “journalist” made sure stealing wine bottles after the shootout in White House correspondent’s dinner pic.twitter.com/JA03xDVMeC
An individual noted, “Classy behavior. Snatching bottles while the President is being rushed out after an assassination attempt says a lot about their priorities.”
A final one suggested, “Those who stole during a crisis should not be allowed to return.”
Many netizens appeared outraged over the behavior of the journalists at the recent correspondents’ dinner at the White House. Which, reportedly, President Donald Trump was a target of.
Internet Defends Journalists Grabbing Booze Amid the Shooting
While some netizens were outraged, others didn’t believe it was that big of a deal. Because they claimed that after all, the journalists paid for the wine. So, why let it go to waste? That's what some of them argued over on X.
One X user pointed out, “They’re not stealing, they paid for it.” Another asked, “Who seriously cares if they’re taking a bottle of wine (that was already paid for) to go?”
One more empathzied and jokingly said, “I would be taking as many bottles of wine back to my room as possible after that scare…” A fourth highlighted, “It’s corked wine. It will be thrown away!”
so. the company paid for them to be there. or maybe the journalists did themselves. which means they paid for those bottles of wine that they were going to drink regardless. not stealing
— ????? '???? ?? ????' ???? (@callumlipa) April 26, 2026
The same individual explained, “Judging by the number of people in the room holding open bottles, they were told to please take it if they wanted it.”
Another person said, “Not defending them but it was on their table, they likely would’ve drank it had things not gone wrong.”
A final one mentioned, “They (bottles of alcohol) were just gonna go to waste… Survive a shooting? Grab a bottle on the house.”
The internet was indeed at a divide over whether or not the journalists’ behavior was justified, or not. Moreover, neither journalist present at the event as commented on the backlash from the internet.
Are the Bottles of Booze Paid For?
According to the White House Correspondents’ Association's official website, it is an exclusive paid event. Only news publications that have journalists as part of the association are permitted to pay and register for the event.
Since it is mainly a fundraising event, the bottles of booze that the journalists grabbed are indeed paid for. While tickets are sold to the previously mentioned members, they are even permitted to book rooms at their own expense.
