A gunman armed with firearms and knives forced a security response at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, sending President Donald Trump and senior officials from the ballroom as shots rang out.
The incident took place at the Washington Hilton on Saturday evening, where about 2,600 guests had gathered for the annual event.
Law enforcement officials said the suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, travelled from California and entered the hotel as a guest.
He moved through a lobby checkpoint before firing a shotgun at a Secret Service agent. The officer wore a protective vest and survived. Authorities later confirmed the officer had left hospital.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the attacker appeared to target members of the administration. “It does appear that he did, in fact, set out to target folks that work in the administration, likely including the president,” he told NBC News.
According to Blanche, investigators believe the suspect travelled by train across several states before reaching Washington. Authorities said they had not established a motive. FBI Director Kash Patel said agents were examining weapons and interviewing witnesses.
Video footage showed the suspect running past barriers as agents responded. Police said he carried a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives. Officers tackled him to the ground and placed him under arrest. He faces charges that include assault of a federal officer and use of a firearm during a violent crime.
Inside the ballroom, guests reacted to what many first thought was a dropped object. Witnesses then reported hearing between five and eight shots. Attendees moved under tables while security teams entered the room with weapons drawn.
Vice President JD Vance was removed first. Agents then shielded Trump before escorting him and First Lady Melania Trump from the stage. Trump stumbled during the exit and received support from security staff. He spent time in a secure suite before returning to the White House.
Trump later addressed reporters. “Being president is a dangerous profession,” he said. He added that violence “is part of the job” and described the attacker as a lone actor. He also stated that law enforcement “acted quickly and bravely”.
The shooting began at about 8:35 pm local time. Within minutes, law enforcement secured the area. By 9:17 pm, Trump confirmed the suspect had been detained. The event was later cancelled, with organisers stating it would be rescheduled within 30 days.
Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, said “everybody’s safe” and pledged to hold the dinner again. She added that journalists “run to the crisis, not away from it”.
Political leaders in the United States issued statements after the incident. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he was “praying for our country tonight”. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote that “the violence and chaos in America must end”.
International leaders also responded. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “shocked by the scenes” and condemned the attack. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described it as an attack on open societies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said violence had no place in politics.
Security at the hotel has drawn scrutiny. The venue remains open to guests during the dinner, with tighter controls focused on the ballroom. Investigators are examining how the suspect brought weapons into the building and reached multiple checkpoints.
The incident marked the third known threat against Trump since 2024. In a previous attack in Pennsylvania, he sustained an injury. Another case involved a suspect near a golf course in Florida.
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