UnitedHealth Group has terminated an employee after social media video emerged showing the worker making comments about Saturday night's shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., where a would-be assassin attempted to attack President Donald Trump.
Alison King, identified as a social media manager for the health insurance company, appeared in a video that circulated online saying: "You know we're cooked as a country when my first reaction to hearing the news ... was 'it was probably fake.' And the second was: 'aww ... they missed? So happy they missed." The post was originally surfaced by Libs of TikTok on April 28, 2026.
The company confirmed King's termination in a statement posted to X. "Violence is never acceptable and any comments that suggest otherwise are in no way consistent with our mission and values," UnitedHealth Group said. "The person who made comments online about Saturday night's incident at a Washington event where President Trump and many other political leaders were gathered is no longer employed by the company."
What the Right Is Saying
Republican leaders swiftly condemned King's comments and called for accountability.
Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee posted on X urging UnitedHealth Group to respond to what he characterized as dangerous rhetoric. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana addressed the broader pattern of political violence concerns at a press conference. "They've incited violence, in my view," Johnson said of political opponents. "It's time to turn down the rhetoric. We've been seeing this over and over. I hope that will be a sobering reminder for everybody about that very important cause."
Conservative commentators argued that King's comments represented a broader tolerance for anti-Republican violence on portions of the political left. Republicans pointed to the December 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as evidence that violent rhetoric has real-world consequences, noting that suspected shooter Luigi Mangione has been celebrated by some progressive communities.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive voices have broadly condemned violence against elected officials, though some Trump critics expressed disappointment that Saturday's assassination attempt failed. A Florida-based Democratic organization posted "that sucks" along with a disappointed emoji on social media following the shooting.
Left-leaning commentators and activists who spoke publicly about the incident largely emphasized that political disagreement should never extend to physical harm. Progressive groups have historically maintained that peaceful democratic processes, not violence, are the proper avenue for addressing policy grievances.
Some progressive outlets noted context around corporate healthcare decisions while arguing that rhetoric from both political extremes has grown more heated in recent years. Several Democratic-aligned commentators pointed to broader concerns about inflammatory language used across the political spectrum as a factor contributing to a toxic national environment.
What the Numbers Show
The attempted assassination at the White House Correspondents' Dinner was carried out by Cole Tomas Allen, who authorities say sent a manifesto to family and friends before approaching the Washington Hilton venue. According to law enforcement briefings, Allen wrote he was "no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor" in reference to Trump.
UnitedHealth Group employs more than 400,000 people nationwide. The company ranks among the largest health insurers in the United States by revenue and membership.
The shooting occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m. Saturday evening during the annual dinner held at the Washington Hilton hotel in the nation's capital.
The Bottom Line
King's termination took effect shortly after UnitedHealth Group became aware of her social media post, according to a company statement. A senior employee told reporters that company leadership initiated the termination process immediately upon seeing King's video.
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of political rhetoric following the December 2024 killing of Thompson and Saturday night's foiled assassination attempt. Both parties have called for de-escalation, though they differ on which side bears greater responsibility for the current environment.
UnitedHealth Group's swift action reflects corporate sensitivity to employee statements that could reflect on company values, particularly given the company's recent history with CEO Brian Thompson's murder. The White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting remains under investigation by federal authorities.