During the annual White House correspondents’ dinner, chaos erupted as a gunman barged into the lobby outside the ballroom, prompting the swift evacuation of Donald Trump. A Secret Service agent was shot at close range but survived thanks to his bulletproof vest, while attendees inside the Washington Hilton Hotel ballroom sought cover by diving under tables. Trump escaped unharmed, quickly leaving the stage when gunshots rang out. The assailant, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, was armed with multiple weapons, including a handgun, shotgun, and knives.
In a press conference following the incident, Trump characterized the shooter as a “lone wolf whack job.”
The turmoil unfolded around 8:35 pm local time (1:35 am UK time) when gunshots were heard, leading guests to take shelter. The Secret Service promptly intervened, removing the US President from the stage.
Later that evening, Trump took to Truth Social to announce the capture of the suspected gunman, praising the swift and effective response of law enforcement.
Footage from CCTV cameras at the hotel lobby, where approximately 2,500 guests were present, showed the suspect running past officers towards the ballroom. Trump also shared images of the suspect’s detainment within the hotel.
Subsequently, a news conference was held at the White House at 10:30 pm, where Trump reiterated his description of the suspect as a “lone wolf whack job,” accompanied by FBI chief Kash Patel and Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche.
The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from California, was officially named by US media outlets.
In Torrance, California, police were seen searching a residence believed to be linked to the suspect late into the night, while authorities in the District of Columbia planned to press formal charges against the suspect on Monday, including firearm-related offenses.
This incident marked the third time since 2024 that the president faced a threat from an attacker in close proximity, including a past attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, that left him injured and claimed the life of a local firefighter.
Trump emphasized the need for heightened security measures in light of the incident, pledging to protect societal integrity against threats.