Did a high-profile Washington dinner take precedence over the mission to take down Osama bin Laden? A stunning allegation from a former Navy SEAL suggests that then-President Barack Obama delayed one of the most critical operations in U.S. history for a night of glitz and glamour with D.C.’s elite.
The Daily Caller reported that former SEAL Matt Bissonnette claimed Obama pushed back the raid on bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, by 24 hours to attend the 2011 White House Correspondents Dinner, a decision that allegedly had dire consequences for the mission carried out on May 2, 2011.
After nearly a decade of hunting bin Laden following the tragic September 11, 2001, attacks that claimed almost 3,000 lives, U.S. forces had finally located the al-Qaida leader hiding in Pakistan, having slipped away during the Battle of Tora Bora in December 2001.
The raid, executed by the elite SEAL Team Six from the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, was a defining moment in the war on terror. Bin Laden was killed on May 2, 2011, closing a dark chapter for America.
But according to Matt Bissonnette, a former SEAL and author of “No Easy Day,” the mission wasn’t supposed to happen on that date. He alleges the original plan was set for the prior day, a weekend with ideal conditions for the operation.
Bissonnette claims Obama personally intervened to shift the timeline. “The president got involved and was like, ‘Hey, can you guys push this one day to the right? Want to hit my dinner,” Bissonnette said on “The Shawn Ryan Show.”
That dinner was none other than the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner, an annual event where politicians and media elites mingle over laughs and lobster.
While Obama was there, reportedly taking jabs at Donald Trump—quips some say spurred Trump’s 2016 presidential run—Bissonnette suggests the nation’s top priority was put on hold.
Now, let’s be fair: leaders deserve a night off now and then. But if Bissonnette’s account holds water, prioritizing a social event over a mission to eliminate the mastermind of 9/11 raises serious questions about judgment at the highest level.
The delay, per Bissonnette, wasn’t just a scheduling quirk—it had real consequences. He notes that the temperature rose by eight degrees on the rescheduled date, impacting the performance of a modified UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter critical to the mission.
During the raid on May 2, 2011, that helicopter crashed. Bissonnette explained the pilot was at full throttle but couldn’t maintain lift, leading to a dangerous descent.
“So, why did we crash? Because President Obama needed to hit the White House Correspondents Dinner,” Bissonnette bluntly stated on “The Shawn Ryan Show.” That’s a gut-punch of an accusation, suggesting a direct link between a gala and a near-disaster for our brave SEALs.
Thankfully, the mission succeeded despite the crash, with bin Laden neutralized. Yet one can’t help but wonder if smoother conditions the day prior could have spared the team such a close call.
Obama has not responded to requests for comment on this allegation, as reported by the Daily Caller News Foundation. Without his side, we’re left with Bissonnette’s account and a nagging unease about what truly drove the timing of this operation.
Critics of progressive priorities might see this as emblematic of a broader trend—optics over action, elites over everyday Americans. While we must respect the immense pressures of the presidency, the idea of a commander-in-chief delaying justice for a black-tie event doesn’t sit right with those who value mission over mingling.