US President Donald Trump was rushed out of the annual White House correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, after a heavily armed suspect opened fire and attempted to breach a Secret Service checkpoint, triggering panic inside the venue and a swift security response. Authorities later confirmed that the suspect was taken into custody and that the president, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other attendees were unharmed.
Officials said the incident occurred around 8:36pm local time when a lone gunman armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives rushed toward a security checkpoint inside the hotel. Law enforcement officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect, and a US Secret Service officer was struck in a bulletproof vest and transported to a local hospital. The officer is said to be in good condition. The suspect was subdued, arrested and also taken to hospital for evaluation. Authorities believe he acted alone and posed no ongoing threat to the public.
US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Ferris said the suspect will face two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, with additional charges possible as the investigation continues. He is expected to be arraigned in federal court on Monday. Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said investigators are still working to determine the motive and believe the suspect had been staying at the hotel, which may have allowed him access to the premises during the event.
Multiple US media outlets identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, citing information reportedly obtained from hotel check-in records and law enforcement sources. Authorities have not officially confirmed the name. Video footage showed the man being detained after rushing toward police lines near the ballroom where Trump and top officials were seated.
Trump later addressed reporters, describing the suspect as “sick” and saying he did not believe the shooting was linked to the ongoing war with Iran. “It’s not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it. I really don’t think so, based on what we know,” he said, adding earlier that investigators were still examining the motive. When asked whether he believed he was the target, Trump replied, “I guess.”
According to officials, shots fired near the entrance prompted Secret Service agents to quickly move onto the stage and evacuate the president and other senior officials. Guests ducked under tables as armed agents secured the ballroom. Trump initially wanted the event to continue, but security personnel insisted he return to the White House.
FBI Director Kash Patel said agents were deployed immediately to examine ballistics evidence, including the long gun and shell casings recovered at the scene, and to conduct witness interviews. Authorities said the swift response prevented what prosecutors described as a potentially “horrific event.”
Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator Lindsey Graham, expressed relief that all attendees were safe and praised law enforcement for acting quickly. Democratic leaders also issued statements thanking security services, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saying they were grateful for the rapid response. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also commended the Secret Service and local police, noting the trauma such incidents create.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the attack as unacceptable political violence and said he was relieved that the president and guests were safe.
The Washington Hilton, where the incident occurred, is historically known as the site of the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. Saturday’s shooting added another dramatic security episode to the venue’s history, though officials stressed that the suspect was stopped before reaching the dinner hall.
Investigators continue to examine the suspect’s background and possible motive, while authorities emphasized that the incident appeared to involve a lone actor and that there was no broader threat.
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