The annual White House correspondents' dinner in Washington DC descended into chaos on Saturday night after a gunman stormed the lobby outside the ballroom, prompting the swift evacuation of President Donald Trump.
Shots Fired and Immediate Response
At approximately 8:35 pm local time (1:35 am UK time), shots were heard inside the Washington Hilton Hotel. Guests were instructed to take cover as Secret Service agents rushed to the President and quickly removed him from the stage. A Secret Service agent was shot at close range but survived thanks to his bulletproof vest. President Trump was uninjured.
Police later identified the shooting suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California. Authorities stated that the man was armed with multiple weapons, including a handgun, a shotgun, and several knives.
President's Reaction
In a press conference following the attack, Trump described the suspect as a "lone wolf whack job." He also said, "Today we need levels of security that probably nobody has ever seen before" and "We're not going to let anybody take over our society."
Timeline of Events
- 8:35 pm: Shots heard in the hotel; guests take cover. Secret Service evacuates Trump from the stage.
- 9:17 pm: Trump posts on Truth Social, confirming the suspect has been apprehended and praising the Secret Service and law enforcement.
- 9:36 pm: Trump states that law enforcement advised him to leave the hotel, which he does immediately. He confirms the First Lady, Vice President, and Cabinet members are safe.
- 10:29 pm: Trump shares CCTV footage from the hotel lobby showing the suspect running past officers toward the ballroom.
- 10:30 pm: Trump holds a news conference at the White House, calling the suspect a "lone wolf whack job." FBI Chief Kash Patel and Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche join him.
- 10:50 pm: US media names the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from California.
- 11:10 pm: Police search a home in Torrance, California, believed to be linked to the suspect.
- 11:15 pm: US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, announces plans to charge the suspect on Monday with multiple offenses, including using a firearm during a crime of violence.
This incident marks the third time since 2024 that the President has faced a threat from an attacker in his immediate vicinity, including the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, that injured him and killed a local firefighter.
