Alan Zendell, April 26, 2026

For my wife and me, the greatest shock related to the events at last night’s White House Correspondents Association Dinner wasn’t that a rogue gunman tried to break into the ballroom or that, according to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, he appeared to want to attack members of the Trump administration, perhaps even the president himself. It was Trump’s response.

Once it was clear that no one in the ballroom was hurt, and that the secret service agent who was shot by the rogue gunman was spared serious injury by his armored vest, our biggest concern was how Trump would react. Would he blame Democrats, who he has frequently described as lunatics? Would he lash out with hate-filled rhetoric as he so often does, raising the temperature of the anger he’s spent ten years fomenting?

He did not. No one hates the way Trump has practiced politics more than I do. No one fears his ability to disrupt and destroy or worries more about the long-term toxicity he has nurtured and infused our politics with. But today, I, along with most of the country must applaud the way our president responded to the event.

Last night, when he took to the airwaves to address the nation, Donald Trump was unifying and presidential. He spoke calmly and confidently, presenting a remarkably unflappable image. He pretty much steered away from politics, his best moment coming when he rhapsodized about the unity he saw in the room. He called the coming together of Democrats and Republicans in the room a beautiful thing, and it was.

Many of us who have opposed Trump from the beginning, whether or not we approved of his policies, focused on the way he communicates. Even many of his supporters acknowledged that they disliked him, that he wasn’t someone they’d ever want to call a friend or share a beer with. But last night, Trump was a different person. He lavishly praised law enforcement, including the same Washington Metropolitan police force he has often denigrated. He said the horrific event could ultimately be seen as positive because of the way it unified people in a positive spirit.

Moreover, this president who has become known more for his lies and wild accusations than anything else, was believable. I heard sincerity in his voice last night, and something that sounded like real courage. The issue, today, is how long this more likable version of Trump will last. Will this event somehow awaken the realization that his actions over the last sixteen months have hurt our country? Will he recognize that Project 2025 and the extremists who drafted it are not interested in making America great, but only in increasing their own power and wealth? Will he suddenly have an epiphany about democracy and our Constitution?

With all Trump has done wrong in his second term, his tariff debacle which has hurt our economy rather than increase our national economic power, the horror show of ICE marching through American cities like a Gestapo force, and the absolutely wrong approach to dealing with the threat Iran’s uranium and missiles pose to the world, last night might be a turning point. Or, it might just be a one-off, an inspired performance by a strangely charismatic politician. Only time will tell.

Even if Trump does a complete turnaround in his governing style, it will be a hard sell for many Americans. Trump has spent nearly eleven years sowing hatred and divisiveness and alienating allies while cozying up to adversaries who bear us ill will. The anger and distrust he has created among everyone not part of his base will not be overcome easily or quickly. Whatever happens from here on will have to be taken one day at a time. I view Donald Trump like an addict whose drugs of choice are greed and lust for power, who has been sober for more than half of one day.

We’ll see in the coming days and weeks if the version of Trump that was on display last night has staying power. If he shows us that he sees the error of the way he has run his political life, if he consistently acts to bring us together and govern in a bipartisan manner that respects the separation of powers in our Constitution, even Trump deserves a second chance.

It’s all up to you, Mr. President. Prove to us that you really care about America, about our planet, and about our democracy that was built on diversity and opportunity.