Panic erupts at White House Correspondents’ Association dinner after armed attacker is shot and detained

US Secret Service agents swiftly escorted Donald Trump away from the stage after gunshots were heard on Saturday evening during a media gala, in what he later described as an attempted assassination.

Security personnel opened fire on a gunman who forced his way through a checkpoint just outside the hotel ballroom where Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, senior officials, and hundreds of guests had gathered for the event.
The incident triggered panic as attendees ducked under tables while Secret Service agents flooded the venue, which was hosting the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton.
Speaking shortly afterward at the White House, Trump said, “A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service.”
He added that authorities believed the suspect acted alone. Video footage shared by Trump showed the attacker running past security as officers reacted. The suspect was apprehended at the scene.
Repeated Security Lapses
Trump revealed that one officer was shot at close range but did not appear to suffer life-threatening injuries. He also criticized the venue’s security, describing it as “not a particularly secure” location.
At the press briefing, Trump said he initially mistook the sound of gunfire for a falling tray before realizing the seriousness of the situation. Despite the scare, he announced plans to reschedule the event within a month.
City officials disclosed that the suspect, believed to have been staying at the hotel, was armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives. He is expected to face firearm and assault charges in court.
Washington police chief Jeffery Carroll confirmed that law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the attacker. He noted that a Secret Service officer was struck in the vest and taken to hospital, adding that the officer was in good condition.
Trump also stated that authorities had searched the suspect’s residence, believed to be in Torrance, California. FBI agents were later seen outside a home in the area.
Several US media outlets identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, though the Federal Bureau of Investigation declined to confirm his identity. A LinkedIn profile under the name “Cole Allen” described him as a mechanical engineer, computer scientist, game developer, and teacher.
Glitzy Annual Gala
During the incident, armed tactical teams secured the stage where Trump had been seated. Police surrounded the hotel while helicopters hovered overhead.
The disruption occurred after the welcome speech and during dinner, just before Trump was scheduled to address the audience. Cabinet members were evacuated first as confusion spread among guests.
One official, Mehmet Oz, was heard telling reporters “Shots fired upstairs” as he was escorted out.
This marks another security scare involving Trump. In 2024, he survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman killed an attendee and injured Trump.
Months later, another suspect was arrested near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida after a rifle was spotted by security agents.
The Washington Hilton, where the latest incident occurred, is historically notable as the location where President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.
Despite past tensions with the media, Trump had been invited to the Correspondents’ Dinner this year. The event, often dubbed the “Nerd Prom,” traditionally gathers journalists, politicians, and public figures to raise funds for scholarships and awards.
Typically featuring comedic performances and presidential remarks, no comedian had been scheduled for this year’s event.