Incident Overview
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night following reports of gunfire on the event premises.
The US Secret Service confirmed that no injuries occurred during the "shooting incident," and one individual was taken into custody. The suspect was later identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31 years old.
In a White House address, President Trump remarked that it was
"always shocking when this happens, that never changes".
Shortly after the incident, the president posted on Truth Social:
"The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we 'LET THE SHOW GO ON' but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement."
He followed up with another post stating that law enforcement had requested that he and the first lady leave the venue.
The White House Correspondents' Dinner is a longstanding American press tradition dating back to 1921 and is typically attended by the sitting president. This marked the first time Trump attended the event as president; his last attendance was in 2011.
What Happened?
CCTV footage shared by President Trump from the Washington Hilton hotel, the location of the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, showed a person running past security officers, who then pursued him.
Authorities reported that security personnel and the suspect exchanged gunfire, though the exact number of shots fired was not disclosed. CBS, citing police sources, reported that between five and eight shots were fired.
Inside the ballroom, where over 2,000 attendees had gathered, video footage captured President Trump and the first lady seated on a stage at the front, conversing with guests when loud bangs were heard from a distance.
They appeared to notice the disturbance and were quickly escorted off the stage by security, while some guests took cover.
Multiple Secret Service agents rushed to the stage armed, as attendees ducked beneath circular tables.
Several BBC correspondents present at the dinner described scenes of widespread confusion following the gunfire.
The ballroom was briefly locked down before an announcement was made that the event would be delayed and rescheduled. Attendees were then escorted out, with many attempting to report on the ongoing situation.
President Trump later posted a close-up photograph showing a shirtless man on the floor with his hands cuffed behind his back, surrounded by Secret Service agents.
President Trump's Remarks After the Shooting
Approximately an hour after the incident, speaking from the White House, President Trump described the suspect as a
"very sick man"who had been taken into custody after charging security at the Washington Hilton hotel armed with a
"powerful" weapon.
He revealed that one Secret Service agent was shot at close range during the incident but was protected by his bulletproof vest.
"I just spoke to the officer, and he's doing great,"the president said.
"He has very high spirits, and we told him we love him and respect him, and he's a very proud guy."
President Trump described the atmosphere in the room as
"totally unified,"with a
"tremendous amount of love and coming together."He stated that he had wished for the event to continue but was prevented by protocol.
He also referenced two previous attempts on his life: one at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, and another while golfing in Palm Beach, Florida, in September 2024.
"It was always shocking when this happens, that never changes,"he said, noting that the first lady was
"rather traumatised"by the incident.
The president expressed gratitude toward the media, commending them for being
"very responsible"in their coverage of the unfolding events.
He confirmed that he had authorized the release of both the image of the detained suspect and the video showing the man rushing past security officers.
Suspect Identification and Charges
US media outlets, citing law enforcement sources, identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California.
According to two sources speaking to CBS, Allen told officials he intended to shoot Trump administration officials.
At a press briefing, Washington DC's interim police chief Jeffery Carroll stated the alleged gunman was a hotel guest at the event location.
Carroll reported that the suspect was
"armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives."
Subsequent images showed FBI agents and police conducting a search at a California address believed to be connected to the suspect.
Law enforcement sources confirmed to CBS that Allen was employed by a tutoring firm in Torrance called C2 Education. CBS reported that Allen received a "Teacher of the Month" award from the company in December 2024.
It remains unclear if he was still employed there at the time of the incident. The Torrance Unified School District stated to CBS that Allen has never been employed by their district.
The California Institute of Technology confirmed via email to CBS that Allen graduated from Caltech in 2017 but provided no additional information.
Jeanine Pirro, US attorney for Washington, announced that the suspect faces two counts: using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on federal officers with a dangerous weapon.
She added that formal charges would be filed on Monday in federal court.
