Fact Check: Did Ukraine’s ambassador to the US steal a champagne bottle during WHCD shooting?
WASHINGTON, DC: Days after the attempt on President Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents' Dinner, a video has resurfaced claiming to show Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States stealing a champagne bottle during the shooting, triggering mockery and criticism.
Let us analyze the video and fact-check its authenticity.
Claim: WHCD video shows Ukrainian ambassador stealing champagne bottles
According to the viral video, Ukraine's ambassador to the US, Olga Stefanishyna, stole several bottles of wine after a gunman opened fire and attempted to storm the annual event at the Washington Hilton.
The allegations intensified after the footage resurfaced on social media, racking up hundreds of thousands of views and accompanied by dubious claims.
The video, from April 25, shows a woman placing multiple wine bottles under her arm in the aftermath of the attempted shooting in a room that appears largely empty following the cancellation of the dinner.
Fact Check: The woman in the video is not Olga Stefanishyna
However, the claim is false, as the woman depicted in the video is not Olga Stefanishyna. The claim can be debunked by comparing the outfit Stefanishyna wore to the event with the one worn by the woman captured in the clip.
The woman seen leaving with the bottles was wearing a black slit dress under a black fur coat, while Stefanishyna wore a silver ruffled feather ensemble, as seen in the before-and-after photos of the incident that she shared on her Facebook account.
Although the identity of the woman in the video could not be independently verified, it can be confirmed that she is not Olga Stefanishyna.
Trump hesitant on bulletproof vest amid security concerns
The incident has once again put a spotlight on the risks surrounding presidential appearances and large public events. When asked whether he would consider wearing a bulletproof vest, Trump appeared hesitant and made a light remark about it.
He added, “I guess it’s something you consider. In one way, you don’t like to do it because you’re giving in to a bad element.”
The shooting, which took place during the dinner attended by journalists, administration officials, and other guests, has raised renewed concerns about security at major public gatherings involving the president.
