Security under scrutiny as WHCD attendees cite inconsistent screening before shooting
A shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is raising fresh questions about security at one of Washington’s highest-profile events, with some attendees describing what they saw as lapses in screening and access control. While the Secret Service and federal law enforcement moved quickly to secure President Donald Trump and other officials, accounts from attendees and lawmakers have painted a mixed picture of the security posture at the Washington Hilton. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER SHOOTING SHARPENS FOCUS ON TRUMP’S BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL Misha Komadovsky, a journalist for Germany’s DW, shared a photo on X of the paper ticket used by attendees to gain access to the event, saying it was “the only thing required” for entry into the Washington Hilton ballroom. “There was no security screening prior to entering the lobby,” he wrote. ABC News reporter Beatrice Peterson, who wrote on X that she has attended the event for more than a decade, offered a more measured assessment, saying the overall security posture appeared consistent with past years. She noted that pre-event gatherings tend to be more fluid, while the dinner itself is typically more tightly controlled, and that security — both plainclothes and uniformed — is always present inside and outside the venue. Peterson described the crowd and security presence as “typical-ish” for a year in which the president attends the dinner, suggesting no obvious deviations from past practice. However, she said multiple investigations are expected to examine what happened and whether any failures occurred, adding the incident could permanently change how the event is handled going forward. SECRET SERVICE IN LINE OF FIRE AT WHCA SHOOTING STILL UNPAID DUE TO DEM-LED SHUTDOWN Harrison Fields, a former White House principal deputy press secretary, told “FOX & Friends” there were “no checkpoints to get into the hotel,” adding that the gunman could have been “roaming” and observing attendees before the incident. “There was a VIP reception right off the main ballroom where Cabinet secretaries were, where the president could have been — and there was no security apparatus leading up to that point,” Fields said. Fields acknowledged that the Secret Service and local law enforcement “took immediate steps to keep us safe,” but said there was “no real buffer” in place, which he noticed as soon as he arrived. WORLD LEADERS CONDEMN ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ VIOLENCE AFTER ARMED ATTACK DISRUPTS WH CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER Even as some attendees described the security posture as typical, lawmakers offered a far more critical assessment. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., pointed to what he described as “glaring security issues,” even as he acknowledged that the Secret Service and federal law enforcement “acted swiftly” to secure the ballroom and move President Donald Trump and other officials to safety. In a post on X, Lawler said there was no photo ID requirement or verified attendee list, which he noted is standard for White House events. He also cited the absence of magnetometers before entry to the ballroom and said multiple pre-event receptions with limited security created potential access points. Lawler said the building remained open to the public and raised concerns about accountability inside the room, noting there was no clear handle on how many members of Congress were present or where they were seated. He called for a “complete and thorough after-action” review, focusing on how the gunman moved from his hotel room into what he described as a secure area with multiple firearms. ARMED MAN SHOT AND KILLED AFTER ‘UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY’ INTO MAR-A-LAGO: SECRET SERVICE Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who attended the dinner, also raised concerns about the venue itself. “We were there front and center,” Fetterman said. “That venue wasn’t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government.” Similarily, Kari Lake, a Trump ally in attendance, echoed criticism of the security measures. “I was there. Security was terrible at the event,” Lake wrote on X. “It was the easiest event I’ve ever gained access to that the president was at. It was so bad we talked about it at our table before the shots rang out.” The Washington Hilton has long hosted high-level government events, including gatherings attended by the president, vice president and members of Congress beyond the annual dinner. Last week, the First Lady’s Luncheon was held in the same ballroom, where first lady Melania Trump and second lady Usha Vance delivered remarks. The Secret Service’s familiarity with the venue helped enable a swift response — and is one reason the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been held there annually since 1968.
White House Correspondents’ Dinner suspect checked into Hilton hotel one day before the shooting: sources
Suspected gunman Cole Allen checked into the Hilton Hotel hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Friday, just one day before the event, sources told Fox News. Allen, 31, a computer scientist from Torrance, California, is accused of opening fire at the event where President Donald Trump was in attendance. Initial reports say Secret Service agents fired 3-4 shots, and Allen fired at least one. The FBI is conducting a ballistics investigation at its lab in Quantico, and authorities are also working with credit card companies to go through purchases going back in time. Authorities said Allen was initially talking with police, but he began refusing to speak as of Sunday morning. NORTH CAROLINA MAN RECOUNTS SHOOTING AFTER TRUMP BANNER TORN FROM MOTHER’S YARD: ‘SOME PEOPLE JUST SNAP’ Sources say Allen is scheduled for his initial court appearance sometime Monday. Allen told law enforcement after his arrest Saturday night that he was targeting Trump administration officials, according to senior federal law enforcement sources. Allen said he planned to “shoot Trump administration officials,” the sources said. TRUMP WOULD-BE ASSASSIN IN BUTLER HAD MASSIVE ‘DIGITAL FOOTPRINT,’ ALLEGES COLUMNIST Authorities have said Allen rushed a Secret Service checkpoint at the event at the Washington Hilton while armed with multiple weapons. He allegedly then opened fire, striking a Secret Service officer in his ballistic vest. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Sunday that authorities do not believe Allen worked with any accomplices. Trump said Saturday night that the shooter was a “lone wolf.” “Well, what President Trump said is that as of now we think that, that’s what the police chief said as well,” Blanche told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “But this is an investigation that is 12 hours, 13 hours old, and so those facts can change, and they often do change. And if there’s anybody else involved we will leave no stone unturned to find out everything we can about that.” “But from what we know right now, from what we know given what happened last night, and the evidence we’ve gathered so far, we don’t believe anybody else was involved, but again, we have a lot of work left to do, and a lot of evidence left to go through and to collect,” Blanche added. Fox News’ David Spunt contributed to this report.
Trump faces unprecedented third assassination attempt
President Donald Trump infamously acknowledges he is choosing the world’s most “dangerous profession,” but surviving a third unprecedented assassination attempt — including one where he was shot in the ear — is only hardening his resolve. “I’ve studied assassinations, and I must tell you, the most impactful people, the people that do the most” are the targets, Trump said in a Saturday night White House press briefing after an alleged would-be assassin was stopped by the U.S. Secret Service at the Washington Hilton, the notorious site of former President Ronald Reagan’s shooting in 1981. “You take a look at the people, Abraham Lincoln, I mean, you go through the people that have gone through this where they got them, but the people that do the most, the people that make the biggest impact, they’re the ones that they go after. “They don’t go after the ones that don’t do much because they like it that way.” TRUMP STANDS ‘STRONGER THAN EVER’ ONE YEAR AFTER SURVIVING PENNSYLVANIA ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT, STAFFERS SAY In Trump’s case, three thwarted assassinations are part of his presidential lore, facing a string of shootings, plots and major security breaches unlike anything in history. Trump cautiously admitted, “I hate to say I’m honored by that,” but noted that “the big names” and the big movers are the targets. Saturday night’s chaos at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington added a new entry to a list already defined by gunfire in Butler, Pa. (July 13, 2024), an armed suspect at his Florida golf club (Sept. 15, 2024) and the Secret Service’s discovery of a sniper’s nest in eyeshot of where Air Force One lands at Palm Beach International in Florida. SCRUTINY INTENSIFIES OVER SECURITY LAPSES SURROUNDING THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING Trump hailed the unity at the WHCA dinner in a room of some of his fiercest critics in the media, urging Americans to unify in divided political times. COREY COMPERATORE’S WIDOW SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON FINAL MOMENTS WITH HER HUSBAND “In light of this evening’s events, I asked that all Americans recommit with their hearts and resolving our differences peacefully,” Trump said. “We have to resolve our differences.” “I will say you had Republicans, Democrats, Independents, conservatives, liberals and progressives — those words are interchangeable, perhaps, but maybe they’re not — but yet everybody in that room, big crowd, record-setting crowd. There was a record-setting group of people, and there was a tremendous amount of love and coming together,” Trump continued. TRUMP SAYS HE WON NEW FANS AFTER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: ‘SOMETHING HAPPENED WHEN I GOT SHOT’ “I watched, and I was very, very impressed by that.“ Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed from the Washington Hilton after shots were fired outside the ballroom, where the president had been scheduled to speak. Authorities said one officer was shot but protected by a ballistic vest, and the suspect, Cole Tomas Allen of California, was taken into custody before breaching the room. HAWLEY URGES DHS SECRETARY NOEM TO DECLASSIFY ALL TRUMP BUTLER RALLY ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT DOCUMENTS The three men at the center of the most serious known threats are now Thomas Matthew Crooks (Butler suspect, deceased), Ryan Wesley Routh (Palm Beach suspect, sentenced to life) and now Allen (arrested and charged Saturday night). Crooks, 20, opened fire at the July 13, 2024, campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The FBI identified Crooks as the shooter after he hit Trump in the right ear and killed rallygoer Corey Comperatore before being shot dead by a Secret Service countersniper. Routh, 59, received a life sentence for his attempt at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach in September 2024. Prosecutors said Secret Service agents spotted him with a rifle near the course while Trump was playing, prompting an agent to open fire before Routh could get a shot off. TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AFTERMATH, REACTIONS FROM INNER CIRCLE REVEALED IN NEW BOOK Allen, identified in Saturday night’s Washington incident, is the newest name on that list. Authorities have announced firearms and assault-related charges. Law enforcement at a Saturday night news conference said Allen was armed with multiple weapons and allegedly fired during a rush at a security perimeter near the dinner, striking a Secret Service agent in his bulletproof vest before being “tackled” to the ground without taking a bullet from the Secret Service. “One officer was shot, but saved by the fact that he was wearing an obviously a very good bulletproof vest,” Trump told reporters, many still in their tuxedos, having left the canceled WHCA dinner, too. “He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job. I just spoke to the officer and he’s doing great. He’s great shape. He’s very high spirits, and we told him we love him and respect him.” RYAN ROUTH TRIAL CONTINUES AFTER AGENT TESTIFIES SUSPECT AIMED RIFLE AT HIM ON TRUMP’S GOLF COURSE Taken together, the three cases underscore how Trump’s security profile has changed from unusually fraught to historically extraordinary. One attempt drew blood on a campaign stage, another ended in a life sentence after a rifle ambush at a golf course, and the latest forced a presidential evacuation from one of Washington’s highest-profile public events. US JUDGE ORDERS SUSPECT DETAINED FOR THREATENING TO KILL RICHARD GRENELL Trump signaled Saturday night that he does not plan to retreat from public appearances despite the repeated threats. “The response time was really incredible, and we’re going to reschedule,” Trump said. “We’re going to do it again.” “We’re not going to let anybody take over our society,” he added. “We’re not going to cancel things out because we can’t do that. We wanted to stay tonight.” TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: SECRET SERVICE ACTING DIRECTOR REVEALS ‘NUMEROUS CHANGES’ AGENCY HAS IMPLEMENTED Other thwarted plots and security scares Beyond the three highest-profile cases, Trump has faced a broader pattern of violent threats and close calls dating back to his first campaign. TRUMP RESPONDS TO CRITICS WITH COUNTERPUNCHES ACROSS
Wyoming court blocks fetal heartbeat abortion law
A Wyoming judge temporarily blocked the state’s newest abortion limit, halting enforcement of a law that prohibits most abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, generally around six weeks of pregnancy. Natrona County District Judge Dan Forgey on Friday granted temporary injunctive relief against the Human Heartbeat Act while the case plays out in court. The plaintiffs “made a sufficient showing of irreparable injury,” Forgey wrote, adding that “the state defendants did not persuasively argue otherwise.” He also said the plaintiffs had made “a sufficient showing of probable success” under Article 1, Section 38 of the Wyoming Constitution, which protects individuals’ rights to make their own healthcare decisions. VERMONT ACCUSED IN LAWSUIT OF TRACKING PREGNANT WOMEN CONSIDERED UNSUITABLE TO BE MOTHERS The ruling is the latest turn in Wyoming’s long-running abortion fight and comes just months after the Wyoming Supreme Court struck down two earlier abortion restrictions, finding they violated the state constitution’s healthcare autonomy protections. That January decision reshaped the legal landscape in Wyoming and prompted lawmakers to try again with a narrower ban tied to the detection of fetal cardiac activity. The law, passed during the Legislature’s 2026 session and signed by Republican Gov. Mark Gordon on March 9, took effect in March. It bars abortion beyond roughly the sixth week of pregnancy, once a fetal heartbeat is detected. The measure includes exceptions for medical emergencies that threaten a woman’s life or health, but not for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. “Where the act does not align to my pro-life stance is in the concern for specific vulnerable populations,” Gordon wrote in a letter to lawmakers Monday. HOUSTON-AREA MIDWIFE ARRESTED FOR PROVIDING ILLEGAL ABORTIONS IN FIRST CRIMINAL CASE UNDER STATE BAN: TEXAS AG It echoes his reservations and expected legal fight when signing the law in March. “I resoundingly share the determination to defend the lives of unborn children and support the intentions behind the Human Heartbeat Act,” he wrote in a statement. “Regrettably, this Act represents another well-intentioned but likely fragile legal effort with significant risk of ending in the courts rather than in lasting, durable policy. Rather than finding a remedy that saves the unborn, I fear we have only added another chapter to the sad saga of repeatedly trying to force a specific solution.” Gordon’s signing made Wyoming the fifth state to bar most abortions at that stage of pregnancy, along with Florida, Georgia, Iowa and South Carolina. Thirteen other states bar abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with some exceptions. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump’s DC beautification push wins rare Dem praise as president snaps landmarks back to life
Democrats are offering rare praise to President Donald Trump as his push to revitalize Washington, D.C., ahead of the semiquincentennial brings neglected landmarks back to life through various restoration projects. “Cannot believe it’s taken this long, but this truly makes me so incredibly happy to see,” wrote ActBlue communications strategist Carter Christensen on X in reaction to the Meridian Hill Park fountain flowing once again after years of neglect – one of a handful of social media messages celebrating the update. Construction and landscaping projects across Washington, D.C., have accelerated in recent months as the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday in July, and follow Trump’s larger effort to beautify the city and lower its crime trends. TRUMP-BACKED MEGA EVENT TO BRING ALL 50 STATES TO DC IN WORLD’S FAIR-STYLE BASH As city fountains turned back on earlier this week, Democrats offered praise to see the city snap back to life. “Best thing this administration has done and it’s not even close,” vice president of liberal think tank, Searchlight Institute, Tré Easton said on X Tuesday. The Meridian Hill Park fountain reopened at the end of April after repairs to cracks in the walls and a revamped landscape. The 13-basin cascading fountain, one of the longest in North America, had sat dry after the National Park Service closed the park’s lower level for renovations in 2020. New fountains in Lafayette Park, located in downtown D.C., were also turned on for the first time. “Can unequivocally say: all the fountains in the nation’s capital should work and I’m glad the Trump people got this done,” wrote another Democrat strategist on X. “Credit where credit is due,” Trump critic and Substack author Anthony LaMesa posted to X on Tuesday. “The Trump administration is finally fixing fountains around Washington, DC that have been out of order for many years,” he added. DEMS UNLOAD ON TRUMP’S LATEST DC UPDATE WITH ‘CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST’ BROADSIDE, LEGAL PUSH Nine fountains are being rehabilitated and returned to service, while nine other operational fountains are set to receive maintenance and system upgrades, according to the National Park Service. “President Trump’s common sense efforts to make D.C. safe and beautiful again are so popular that even Democrats are publicly praising the President for these much-needed and long-overdue renovations,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Fox News Digital. WHITE HOUSE FIRES BACK AT CRITICS CALLING TRUMP’S MASSIVE ARCH ‘TOO BIG’ “Our nation’s capital will look more spectacular than ever before for America’s 250th birthday all thanks to President Trump!” Rogers added in a comment to Fox News Digital. President Trump requested a $10 billion Presidential Capital Stewardship Program in his 2027 budget. The funds would continue priority construction and rehabilitation projects in the Washington, D.C., area. Trump has also pursued other high-profile changes tied to his broader vision for remaking the city, including White House renovations, the Trump-Kennedy Center name change and readying plans for installation of the Triumphal Arch — which have drawn Democratic scrutiny as the president’s “vanity” ventures.
White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting sharpens focus on Trump’s ballroom construction proposal
The shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday evening has thrust fresh attention on President Donald Trump’s push to build a secure ballroom at the White House, a proposal he says could prevent such threats. A gunman armed with multiple weapons opened fire near a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton — where hundreds of journalists, celebrities and government officials were attending the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. A Secret Service agent was struck but protected by a ballistic vest, and the suspect was quickly taken into custody, authorities said. Trump told reporters at the White House that he spoke with the agent, adding that he is expected to recover. SECRET SERVICE IN LINE OF FIRE AT WHCD SHOOTING STILL UNPAID DUE TO DEM-LED SHUTDOWN Trump pointed to the incident as evidence that the hotel venue was “not a particularly secure building,” arguing that a new White House ballroom — equipped with features like bulletproof materials — would offer a safer alternative. But the proposal faces hurdles. The project has been slowed by legal challenges over whether the administration bypassed required approvals, with courts weighing the scope of presidential authority as the case moves forward. SPRAWLING NEW $250M WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM TO BE PAID FOR BY TRUMP AND DONORS The planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom has become a political flashpoint, with critics raising concerns about cost and preservation, while Trump and his allies frame it as a largely privately financed security upgrade. While the White House has hosted countless ceremonial events, it has never had a dedicated ballroom. The new structure would fill that gap, replacing the historic East Wing with a space built to accommodate large-scale gatherings. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the ballroom would seat roughly 650 guests and reflect the building’s classical design. “The White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders… without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away,” Leavitt said during a July 31 briefing, calling the project “a much-needed and exquisite addition.” FROM THE OVAL OFFICE TO THE TRUMP KENNEDY CENTER, THE GILDED MAKEOVER EXPANDS Since returning to office, Trump, a former real estate developer, has embarked on a series of projects aimed at altering the look and feel of the White House and other iconic Washington landmarks. In February, the president announced in a Truth Social post that the Trump Kennedy Center will close for a two-year renovation. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In October, Trump unveiled a new monument planned to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary next year. The monument, a near twin of Paris’ iconic Arc de Triomphe, is meant to welcome visitors crossing the Memorial Bridge from Arlington National Cemetery into the heart of the nation’s capital. Trump has also added golden accents to the Oval Office, added a “walk of fame” to the colonnade outside the Oval Office, renovated the Lincoln bathroom, paved part of the Rose Garden and installed two large American flags on the White House grounds.
Army unveils Combat Field Test with new fitness assessment: ‘A critical step forward’
The Army announced in a news release earlier this week that it is rolling out a new combat fitness test for frontline troops as leaders push to strengthen battlefield readiness amid ongoing recruiting challenges. The Combat Field Test (CFT), which is age and gender-neutral, applies to soldiers in combat specialties, is designed to mirror the physical demands of modern warfare and signals a shift toward stricter, role-specific standards as the Army looks to boost readiness across its ranks. The move comes after the Army missed recruiting targets in recent years, including falling roughly 15,000 soldiers short in 2022, according to U.S. Army Recruiting Command data, as leaders work to rebuild enlistment numbers and overall force strength. While the service has since rebounded to meet its 2025 targets, leaders continue to work on long-term readiness. The update follows broader changes to Army fitness standards in recent years. In 2025, the service announced a new Army Fitness Test to replace the previous Army Combat Fitness Test, after months of data analysis and feedback, with officials saying the changes were designed to improve readiness and emphasize combat effectiveness. TRUMP IS SENDING A POWERFUL MESSAGE TO OUR ENEMIES — AND ALLIES — WITH THE PENTAGON’S REBRAND The update comes amid War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s broader push to shift the military back to what he calls the “warrior ethos.” “The Combat Field Test is a critical step forward in ensuring our soldiers serving in the most physically demanding specialties have the specific fitness required to dominate on the modern battlefield,” Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said in a statement Wednesday. “This is about readiness, lethality and the well-being of our soldiers.” A spokesperson for the Army did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Soldiers will have 30 minutes to complete seven events with the clock running continuously while wearing the Army Combat Uniform and boots. ARMY UNVEILS NEW FITNESS TEST WITH TOUGHER STANDARDS — COULD YOU PASS IT? They must first run one mile, followed by 30 dead-stop push-ups, a 100-meter sprint, 16 lifts of a 40-pound sandbag onto a 65-inch platform and a 50-meter carry of two Army water cans weighing 40 pounds each. The test then requires soldiers to complete a 50-meter movement drill with a high crawl and a 25-meter three- to five-second rush before a final one-mile run. The Army will begin implementing the new test this month, and soldiers will be required to complete it annually. During the first year of the rollout, soldiers will not face penalties as the Army phases in the new standard, part of a broader effort to prepare troops for the physical demands of modern combat.
‘Discriminatory’ National Park fee plan slammed by Democrats turns into conservation win, Burgum says
EXCLUSIVE: A major change to the National Park entry fee structure lambasted by Democrats as discriminatory has led to a moderate windfall for conservation efforts undertaken by the Department of the Interior. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., led a December letter co-signed by Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and others slamming DOI Secretary Doug Burgum’s plan to increase national park annual passes to $250 for foreign visitors while the $80 rate for residents remains in place. An additional $100 is also tacked on to nonresident visitors at the most trafficked parks. Padilla separately called the plan “discriminatory,” while Schiff and his co-signers said the move fails to meet public notice guidelines, risks retention of visitors’ personal information and raises questions about how DOI would facilitate the discrepant fee structure when a carload of people show up at the gate. But the Interior Department went ahead with the plan, and in the first quarter of 2026, the disparate fee structure led to more than $2 million being collected from foreign visitors, Burgum’s office told Fox News Digital. KRISTI NOEM’S FIRING FAILS TO SWAY DEMOCRATS AS DHS SHUTDOWN DRAGS ON “The millions of dollars in new revenue generated from this administration’s Non-Resident park passes is proof that President Donald J. Trump was right to put affordability for Americans first as we change how the Department of Interior raises money to support conservation from foreign visitors,” said DOI press secretary Aubrie Spady. “As we approach our great nation’s 250th birthday, initiatives like America First pricing, along with the addition of the America the Beautiful pass featuring President Trump, are delivering meaningful benefits for both our parks and the American people by celebrating our nation’s history while investing in its future.” In their letter calling on Burgum to stop implementation of the program, Padilla and Schiff expressed concern about the effect on “understaffed” park workers, what they said was an already cratering visitation rate from Canadian visitors — which Democrats have blamed on Trump’s sparring with Prime Minister Mark Carney and conjecture about annexing the “51st state” — and what would happen to visitors who cannot produce ID. AMERICAN HISTORY WON’T BE DISPLAYED ‘IN A WOKE MANNER’ AT SMITHSONIAN, TRUMP SAYS Burgum previously legitimized the disparate fee structure by noting that DOI and national parks are already partially subsidized by every American taxpayer – and that by charging a lesser rate to U.S. residents, the agency is acknowledging that and giving back to American parkgoers. “These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations,” Burgum said. Pass sales in the first three months of 2024 totaled $13.7 million, and $14.3 million in 2025. As of this year, that figure increased to $16.7 million, with total nonresident revenue so far topping $4.9 million alone. Padilla and Schiff did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
California DOGE leader slams Newsom, Bonta over state’s massive fraud issues: “Every day is opposite day”
Republican congressional candidate and CAL DOGE Director Jenny Rae Le Roux is slamming Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta for failing to crack down on widespread fraud after her watchdog group uncovered multiple cases she says state leaders ignored. “Every day is opposite day when it comes to Gavin Newsom and Rob Bonta,” Le Roux told Fox News Digital. “Whatever they say, I generally believe the exact opposite is true and so when Gavin Newsom says that fraud is under control, what that means is that either he’s in on it or unwilling to do anything about it.” “They are either unwilling to do anything or they are not wanting to do it, and they’re just trying to spin what they are already doing in that way,” she added. CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN SLAMS STATE’S HANDLING OF HOSPICE FRAUD AS SHE LOOKS TO FLIP BLUE SEAT California has been at the center of the national fraud spotlight in recent months as the Trump administration has sent resources to the state to look into various accusations of fraud ranging from healthcare to homelessness to nonprofit organizations. The CEO of a California hospice advocacy group told congressional lawmakers Tuesday that fraud in the industry is flourishing across the state, questioning how numerous fraudulent providers can continue to operate under the nose of regulators. “You’d be amazed at how many hospices… the door you can walk up to in California and there is nobody there. Five months’ worth of mail that you can see stacked… nobody’s there,” Sheila Clark, the president and CEO of the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association (CHAPCA), said. “And that passed a survey. How did that happen?” Le Roux said her group uncovered what she described as “intentional fraud” in Sacramento, alleging funds are being redirected toward “Democrat base-building.” Cal DOGE is a group that works to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in California that was launched in early 2026 by Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton. The group says it has uncovered almost $700 million in waste, fraud, and abuse since its founding. “We have been more effective with a group of volunteers in the last 10 weeks than Gavin Newsom and Rob Bonta have since they’ve been in office,” Le Roux said. She added Bonta’s office wasted resources on legal battles against the Trump administration instead of focusing on fraud patterns that her group identified using artificial intelligence and financial data. “Rob Bonta’s office billed over 150,000 hours a year going after President Trump and the Trump administration’s policies that equates to almost 200 lawyers times when you extrapolate it out over an entire year, which is one-sixth of his entire office, and larger than the DOJ office that’s actually doing something in California,” she said. Le Roux, a cousin of Democratic Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, launched her campaign in March and is running in the GOP primary for California’s 47th Congressional District with a focus on combating fraud. “It doesn’t just happen, it’s the normal way of operating, which is why, again, the people who’ve been perpetrating the fraud and leading the charge on it, Newsom and Bonta, can’t be the ones that are actually going to investigate it,” she said. GOP SHERIFF LEADING CALIFORNIA POLL RIPS NEWSOM’S ‘LOVE AFFAIR’ WITH CRIMINALS In one example, she said her group uncovered a case where $370 million in cannabis tax revenue was routed through an intermediary and split into smaller grants that went to unrelated programs. She pointed to systemic flaws, including limited federal prosecution for funds “mostly under $1 million.” “There is no oversight, not one report that is required to explain where the money is spent,” she said. As a result, she said that a lack of oversight has contributed to an estimated $80 billion annually in “fraud, waste, or gross overpayments,” arguing the problem is systematic. Amid recent hospice fraud allegations, Le Roux said stronger oversight could have prevented the issue and curbed the fraud. Newsom’s office pushed back, saying enforcement falls to the federal government. “These hospice agencies that we are now in the process of shutting down were licensed by the state of California,” she said. “They should have never been opened. Every piece of oversight that the state of California should have been administrating had not been happening and so this is a California issue.” She said her group is pressuring officials to prosecute fraud. “Newsom is trying to take credit for doing nothing instead of actually becoming a part of reform in our state, which is by the way, what not just Republicans, but independents and Democrats want desperately,” she said. However, she emphasized fraud extends beyond California. “When money flows into California and nothing is checked, that is an American problem, not a California problem,” she said. Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Newsom and Bonta for comment. Newsom’s office has responded to critics in general in recent weeks by saying the state is “leading the nation in preventing fraud.” “Since @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom took office: — $125 billion+ in fraud STOPPED — 1,200+ criminals ARRESTED — 83% reduction in EBT fraud in one year — New hospice licenses BANNED beginning in 2022,” Newsom’s press office posted on X last month.
Correspondents’ dinner chaos hits high-profile guests already marked by political violence
When shots rang out at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night, the chaos tore through a ballroom that included a handful of people who had already lived through political violence. President Donald Trump was rushed from the ballroom at the Washington Hilton Hotel on Saturday evening, just as the dinner was kicking off in earnest, after apparent gunshots were heard. Video from inside the event showed attendees taking cover under tables as panic spread through the room. The moment carried additional weight for several attendees whose lives had already been shaped by political violence, including Trump, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and TPUSA CEO Erika Kirk. “The people that make the biggest impact, they’re the ones that [shooters] go after,” Trump said late on Saturday evening from a press conference at the White House. “They don’t go after the ones that don’t do much because they like it that way.” COREY COMPERATORE’S WIDOW SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON FINAL MOMENTS WITH HER HUSBAND Trump, himself, has faced repeated threats on his life. There were two assassination attempts on Trump’s life in 2024, beginning in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a bullet grazed his ear after a gunman climbed onto a roof during a rally on July 13, 2024. “Butler had one weak spot that we all know about. Somebody should have been up there, but even in Butler, we had our sniper on our side. Within 4.2 seconds, from a distance of about 400 yards, one shot, and he was gone,” said Trump. A second incident unfolded just weeks later, at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, where a suspect with a rifle was discovered near the golf course while Trump was present. Trump was not injured during that incident. FBI INVESTIGATES HUNTING STAND WITH SIGHT LINE TO TRUMP’S AIR FORCE ONE EXIT AREA AT PALM BEACH AIRPORT Others in the room have also been shaped by political violence, bringing additional weight to the moment. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, was swiftly escorted out of the room on Saturday, an HHS official told Fox News Digital. His family history is closely tied to two tragic assassinations. JFK was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963, while riding in an open-top motorcade in Dallas, Texas, during a re-election campaign event. YEARS OF CAMPUS ATTACKS ON CONSERVATIVE ACTIVISTS RESURFACE AFTER CHARLIE KIRK’S MURDER Five years later, the secretary’s father, then-Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, was shot after he delivered a victory speech when he won the California Democratic presidential primary. He was struck three times, including a fatal shot to the head. Similarly, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise was among four people who were shot on June 14, 2017, at a Republican congressional baseball practice. The gunman, a supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was shot and killed by police. Scalise was shot in the hip, leaving him critically wounded. He eventually recovered and returned to Congress months later. “I’m incredibly grateful for the brave members of law enforcement who acted quickly to protect all of us attending tonight’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner. This is an event meant to bring people together. Violence has NO place in our country,” Scalise posted to X. Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk was reportedly seen crying backstage after she ran out of the ballroom following the shots fired. Kirk has also experienced personal tragedy when her husband was assassinated in September 2025 while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. Fox News Digital reached out to Kennedy and Scalise for comment. Trump hailed law enforcement during his press conference from the White House late on Saturday, saying the situation was “incredibly acted upon by Secret Service and law enforcement.” “[The suspect] had a long way to go. That was really a first line of defense. And they got him. And they really, you know, they acted incredibly,” he continued. The suspected gunman, identified as a 31-year-old Cole Allen of California, was taken into custody.