A gunman armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives charged a Secret Service checkpoint at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night, forcing President Trump to be evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner in chaos. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, rushed past metal detectors in the hotel lobby as security personnel drew their weapons. Surveillance video released by Trump on Truth Social showed Allen sprinting through the checkpoint as agents responded with gunfire.
Guests seated in the ballroom heard what sounded like three to four loud bangs. Attendees immediately dove under tables for cover. "We thought that some of the plates for the dinner fell, and next thing you know, we all went under the table screaming," said Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland congressman among the roughly 2,000 attendees. CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, positioned near the checkpoint, said he was within a few feet of the shooter. "I saw a very, very serious weapon. He starts shooting, and I happened to have been a few feet away from him," Blitzer told CNN.
Secret Service agents with guns drawn rushed into the ballroom and escorted Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and multiple Cabinet members off the stage. Trump was unharmed, as were all other attendees. The dinner was canceled immediately as law enforcement cleared the building.
Allen was subdued at the scene and taken into custody without being shot. He was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that charges related to the attack would be filed shortly. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro formally charged the suspect with felony firearms and assault charges.
According to social media profiles matching Allen's appearance, he worked as a tutor and private instructor in the Torrance area. Police described him as a "lone actor" with no indication that others were involved in the attack.
One Secret Service agent was struck during the confrontation but was protected by a bulletproof vest and sustained no critical injuries. The agent was expected to be okay.
The incident immediately raised questions about security protocols at the high-profile event. Rep. Brian Jack of Georgia told Axios that "somebody should look into the security protocols that were adopted here." Rep. Nanette Barragan of California, seated near the rostrum during the evacuation, said "it's insane that this is happening at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Security is supposed to be top notch."
Trump used the incident to advance his proposal for a secure White House ballroom. "It's not a particularly secure building," Trump said of the Washington Hilton at a White House press conference after the shooting. "And I didn't want to say this, but this is why we have to have all the attributes of what we're planning at the White House." Trump's plans for the ballroom include a secure bunker beneath what was once the East Wing, with bulletproof materials and advanced security features.
Trump linked the attack to previous assassination attempts against him. "Today, we need levels of security probably nobody has seen before," he said. He noted that he survived a shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024 when a bullet nicked his ear, and a second assassination attempt at his Florida golf course months later. When asked why he believed he was repeatedly targeted, Trump said assassins target "the most impactful people." He added: "I hate to say I'm honored by that, but I've done a lot."
This was Trump's first attendance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner as president, having boycotted the event during his first term and the first year of his second. White House Correspondents' Association President Weijia Jiang initially announced the event would resume shortly, but law enforcement insisted everyone leave the premises. She later said Trump "insists that we will reschedule this event in the next 30 days."
At a White House briefing, Trump struck a conciliatory tone toward the media. He called the dinner "an event dedicated to the unity between the press and both sides of the political aisle" and said the evening had been "beautiful" before the shooting. He praised law enforcement's swift response and said he initially thought the gunshots were a tray falling. "Actually, it was totally shocking to me, and that never changes," Trump said.
Trump revealed he had prepared remarks attacking media outlets he views as unfair to his administration. "I fought like hell to stay" after the attack, Trump said. "I was all set to rip" the press in his speech. He added: "I don't know if I can ever be as rough as I was going to be tonight," when the event is rescheduled.
Leaders from multiple countries condemned the shooting as an act of political violence. Canadian, Mexican, and British officials expressed relief that Trump and other attendees were unharmed. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wished Trump safety following the incident. French President Emmanuel Macron called the attack "unacceptable."
Trump called for Americans to recommit to resolving differences peacefully. "In light of this evening's events, I ask all Americans to recommit to resolving our differences peacefully," he said.
A gunman armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives charged a Secret Service checkpoint at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night, forcing President Trump to be evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner in chaos. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, rushed past metal detectors in the hotel lobby as security personnel drew their weapons. Surveillance video released by Trump on Truth Social showed Allen sprinting through the checkpoint as agents responded with gunfire.
The incident began around 8:36 p.m. as guests seated in the ballroom heard what sounded like three to four loud bangs. Attendees immediately dove under tables for cover. "We thought that some of the plates for the dinner fell, and next thing you know, we all went under the table screaming," said Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland congressman among the roughly 2,000 attendees. CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, positioned near the checkpoint, said he was within a few feet of the shooter. "I saw a very, very serious weapon. He starts shooting, and I happened to have been a few feet away from him," Blitzer told CNN.
Secret Service agents with guns drawn rushed into the ballroom and escorted Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and multiple Cabinet members off the stage. Trump was unharmed, as were all other attendees. The dinner was canceled immediately as law enforcement cleared the building.
Allen was subdued at the scene and taken into custody without being shot. He was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that charges related to the attack would be filed shortly. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro formally charged the suspect with felony firearms and assault charges.
According to social media profiles matching Allen's appearance, he worked as a tutor and private instructor in the Torrance area. Police described him as a "lone actor" with no indication that others were involved in the attack. A law enforcement official told the Associated Press that Allen told officials he wanted to shoot members of the Trump administration, though sources differed on whether he was specifically targeting the president.
One Secret Service agent was struck during the confrontation but was protected by a bulletproof vest and sustained no critical injuries. The agent was expected to be okay.
The incident immediately raised questions about security protocols at the high-profile event. Rep. Brian Jack of Georgia told Axios that "somebody should look into the security protocols that were adopted here." Rep. Nanette Barragan of California, seated near the rostrum during the evacuation, said "it's insane that this is happening at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Security is supposed to be top notch."
Trump used the incident to advance his proposal for a secure White House ballroom. "It's not a particularly secure building," Trump said of the Washington Hilton at a White House press conference after the shooting. "And I didn't want to say this, but this is why we have to have all the attributes of what we're planning at the White House." Trump's plans for the ballroom include a secure bunker beneath what was once the East Wing, with bulletproof materials and advanced security features.
Trump linked the attack to previous assassination attempts against him. "Today, we need levels of security probably nobody has seen before," he said. He noted that he survived a shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024 when a bullet nicked his ear, and a second assassination attempt at his Florida golf course months later. When asked why he believed he was repeatedly targeted, Trump said assassins target "the most impactful people." He added: "I hate to say I'm honored by that, but I've done a lot."
This was Trump's first attendance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner as president, having boycotted the event during his first term and the first year of his second. White House Correspondents' Association President Weijia Jiang initially announced the event would resume shortly, but law enforcement insisted everyone leave the premises. She later said Trump "insists that we will reschedule this event in the next 30 days."
Trump posted on Truth Social that evening: "The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition. We will be speaking to you in a half an hour. I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days."
At a White House briefing, Trump struck a conciliatory tone toward the media. He called the dinner "an event dedicated to the unity between the press and both sides of the political aisle" and said the evening had been "beautiful" before the shooting. He praised law enforcement's swift response and said he initially thought the gunshots were a tray falling. "Actually, it was totally shocking to me, and that never changes," Trump said.
Trump revealed he had prepared remarks attacking media outlets he views as unfair to his administration. "I fought like hell to stay" after the attack, Trump said. "I was all set to rip" the press in his speech. He added: "I don't know if I can ever be as rough as I was going to be tonight," when the event is rescheduled.
Leaders from multiple countries condemned the shooting as an act of political violence. Canadian, Mexican, and British officials expressed relief that Trump and other attendees were unharmed. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wished Trump safety following the incident. French President Emmanuel Macron called the attack "unacceptable."
Trump called for Americans to recommit to resolving differences peacefully. "In light of this evening's events, I ask all Americans to recommit to resolving our differences peacefully," he said.
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