A nurse practitioner at Cedars‑Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles is facing criticism after posting on social media about the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner that occurred on April 25 — a shooting in which President Donald Trump was present.
Nurse’s Post Sparks Outrage
Matthew Shaffer, identified on Cedars‑Sinai’s website as a nurse practitioner, responded to a social media comment about the shooting that suggested the shooter had failed to hit his target. In the original post, user Jason Cosler wrote: “Someone missed again? Who is hiring these people.” Shaffer reportedly replied, “Up your game, people.”
Critics online interpreted the comment as expressing disappointment that Trump was not killed during the incident.
Hospital Issues Statement
A spokesperson for Cedars‑Sinai Medical Center released a statement emphasizing that individual staff posts do not reflect the views of the hospital. They told Fox News Digital:
“Social media postings of individual staff members do not reflect the views or positions of Cedars‑Sinai.”
Shaffer’s LinkedIn profile lists him as a full‑time nurse practitioner with Cedars‑Sinai Medical Group since March.
Details of the Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting
The shooting suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, was arrested on April 25 after authorities say he opened fire at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner — an event President Trump was attending as president for the first time.
Law enforcement sources told Fox News Digital that Allen wanted to target Trump administration officials in the attack. He now faces three federal charges, including:
- Attempting to assassinate the President of the United States
- Transporting a firearm across state lines
- Discharging a firearm during a crime of violence
According to Allen’s LinkedIn profile, he earned a master’s degree in computer science from Cal State University, Dominguez Hills in May 2025.
Public Backlash Continues
Shaffer’s comment has drawn backlash from members of the public online. Radio host Doug Wagner criticized the post, writing:
“@CedarsSinai So, are you good with an RN of yours cheering on the assassination of the President? What if someone who is clearly a Trump supporter is in your hospital? Think maybe he could kill that person. You down with that?”
Ongoing Discussion
The incident has reignited debates about professional conduct, free speech, and how healthcare institutions handle employees’ social media activity in politically charged situations.
