A former ESPN journalist's position within the Trump administration came to an end after footage of her throwing a drink at another spectator during an NBA game in Washington circulated widely on social media. The incident occurred at the Washington Wizards' home-opener game, and the video prompted her departure from the role on Thursday — the day after the recording showed her tossing a drink toward another attendee.
Her exit came within a single day of taking on oversight of External Affairs and Press under Under Secretary Jacob Helberg's operation. The State Department offered no clarification on the broader circumstances surrounding her early exit from the event.
On Wednesday night at Capital One Arena, an altercation between players unfolded following Washington's 128-116 win over Milwaukee, an episode that preceded the broader incident involving McHenry. Portions of the crowd directed jeers at McHenry as she made her way out of the stands, with some tossing rally towels in her direction, while she waved and blew kisses toward the spectators.
Fenichel, a YouTuber based in Washington DC, was present alongside McHenry when the incident took place. When followers directed a wave of messages his way, he addressed two circulating claims — one linking him romantically to Britt, another suggesting he supported Trump — stating that he and Britt were not in a relationship and that no prior romantic connection existed between them. He also indicated he did not consider himself aligned with the MAGA movement.
Those seated directly behind McHenry had directed verbal taunts at Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma and made remarks about his fiancée, model Winnie Harlow. When McHenry moved to intervene and settle the group down, that action is reported to have set off the altercation. People in the vicinity reported that the group threw a beverage at McHenry and directed verbal abuse toward her before any other incident took place.
Recorded footage captured portions of the interaction, leaving other details outside the camera's range. Video taken at the scene showed McHenry throwing a beverage back toward the crowd as tensions between the two parties escalated. Venue workers removed her from the premises as spectators voiced displeasure and threw items in her direction. A guard nearby heard McHenry call out, asking what he had done wrong.
Whether she left under instruction or on her own terms remained a matter of dispute, with different sources providing conflicting accounts. People close to McHenry maintained that the decision to visit a bar was her own, while video captured at the scene appeared to show venue security personnel guiding her away from the area.
Before taking up the post, McHenry had used her Instagram account to share news of the appointment, describing it as an honour to be given the opportunity to serve. Comments on her account were turned off in the aftermath of the incident. Prior to her role in the administration, McHenry had spent time on staff at ESPN. Her position, which she took up in September, centred on press advisory work covering the European and African portfolios.
