Spread Out! One Grenade Could Kill Us All!

The recent attack vs. President Trump and his cabinet at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner raises several questions:

With the U.S. and its allies at war with Iran, and our troops at risk, should we be holding black tie diners in DC? Moreover, is it wise to have so many high ranking officials packed into a hotel ballroom?

This retired infantry officer recalls admonishing troops to stay spread out, lest a single grenade kill us all.

So, at the critical time in the life of our republic it would seem more prudent to have the White House Correspondence celebrate our First Amendment while the President and his cabinet stay at the task for winning the war in the Middle East.

Furthermore, should the dinner in question be resumed, should the same cast of high ranking officials attend? Surely, a lesser number of them and their spouses would indicate some lessons have been learned from the event aborted by the would-be assassin.

One can understand why the host hotel would be home to dozens of pre-dinner and post-dinner receptions. Good business for the hotel and that is just fine. But, hosting multiple events and having hotel rooms sold out does pose additional security problems.

Ever since the mass shooting from a hotel room in Las Vegas, some hotels make a practice of inspecting hotel rooms to see if occupants are storing weapons and ammunition. Apparently that was not done at the DC Hilton. And while it is prudent to keep the hotel rooms free from guns and ammunition, a bomb or bombs poses the greater threat.

While the U.S. Secret Service did a good job of stopping the would be assassin from reaching the ballroom, what if the perp had been wearing a suicide vest and had set off a bomb? World-wide, suicide bombers have killed more people than lone gunmen or women.

While this writer is critical of President Trump, the person and his crude ways, many of his policies are sound and even if some do not like his policies, they are worthy of civilized debate and should not, in a democracy, be stifled with violence. Thus, the report of left-wing Democrats to urge violence toward an elected U.S. President, is a admission of failure on their part to have any worthwhile policy alternatives. That is probably why so few times have people from Right resorted to violence.

Finally, there are lessons to be learned from the aborted black-tie dinner. Placing the leader ship of our Executive Branch and Congress in one hotel ballroom is not a wise idea. Secondly, if this event is to be resumed, far fewer member of the Executive Branch and Congress should attend. Thirdly, the Secret Service and the host hotel should make an effort to make sure that hotel guests are not storing weapons or bombs in their rooms. And, lastly, this retired solder does not think lavish black-tie events are appropriate during a time of war, declared by Congress or not.

(c) 2026. William Hamilton.v