The Chilean government, led by President José Antonio Kast, has issued a strong condemnation of the shooting that took/occurred in Washington, D.C., during the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The incident, which took place Friday night at the Washington Hilton, involved a 31-year-old man identified as Tomas Collen, who attempted to break in armed with a shotgun.
According to reports from Cooperativa RSS, the Secret Service responded to the attack after shots were fired by the individual. Donald Trump himself confirmed during a press conference that the attacker "acted alone" and that a Secret Service agent was struck by a projectile but managed to protect themselves thanks to their bulletproof vest.
The Chilean Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing solidarity with the people and government of the United States. "We are convinced that violence must be banished from our societies and that it runs contrary to the true democratic values that inspire us," the official communiqué stated.
Security Management and Migration Crisis
On the domestic front, the Chilean president ruled out deploying the Armed Forces for public order control on the streets, prioritizing the strengthening of the police forces instead. In a recent statement, Kast questioned the legal liability that would fall upon soldiers in the event of firearm-related incidents.
“Who answers to the mother of a conscript who improperly loaded his rifle with blank ammunition, but instead fired a live round and killed someone? They would be sentenced to several years in prison,” the Head of State stated, according to CNN Chile. Instead, the president proposed improving the equipment and compensation for the Carabineros and the PDI (Investigative Police).
Simultaneously, the government is seeking to resolve the migration crisis by reopening consular relations with Venezuela. Deputy Jorge Alessandri (UDCON) confirmed to Canal 13 that the United States has offered its "good offices" to facilitate this process, as the lack of diplomatic ties prevents document validation and the execution of deportations.
Diplomatic tensions intensified following Kast's remarks in Buenos Aires, where he labeled Nicolás Maduro a "narco-dictator." This stance triggered a critical response from Venezuelan Foreign Minister Iván Gil, which froze efforts to restore consular offices that have been suspended since July 2024, according to El Mostrador.
Public Perception and Polling
The political situation unfolds against a backdrop of shifting public opinion. According to the Criteria poll published by CNN Chile, President Kast's approval rating rose by one point to 38%, while his disapproval rating remained at 49%.
The survey also showed a slight improvement in the administration's handling of the emergency, with a 37% approval rating. However, the reconstruction bill remains a point of contention: while 37% of respondents favor the project, 69% believe it will primarily benefit high-income individuals.
