US President Donald Trump on Sunday said the suspect behind the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner shooting was “heavily armed” and had charged a security checkpoint with multiple weapons before opening fire at a Secret Service agent, triggering a major security scare at the high-profile event.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington by Secret Service agents on Saturday night after a man opened fire on security personnel nearby.
“A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service,” Trump said at the White House, describing the sequence of events.
The incident unfolded outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night, where Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and senior cabinet officials were attending the annual dinner.
AGENT SHOT, VEST TOOK IMPACT
Trump confirmed that one Secret Service officer was shot at close range with a “very powerful gun” but survived because of a bulletproof vest.
The man fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a checkpoint in the Washington Hilton hotel before being tackled and arrested. Trump told reporters at a hastily arranged briefing at the White House later that the officer was saved by his bulletproof vest and is in “good shape.”
“One officer was shot, but he is in great shape the vest did the job,” he said, adding that the officer was in “high spirits.”
An FBI official had earlier said the suspect fired at a Secret Service agent, who was hit in protective gear and not harmed.
SUSPECT IDENTIFIED AS CALIFORNIA MAN
Trump said the suspect was from California and had been brought under control at the scene. Law enforcement officials have identified the accused as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance.
A law enforcement official identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, a Los Angeles-area resident about 31 years of age. Little was immediately known about Allen’s background, but social media postings suggested he was a teacher in Torrance, California near Los Angeles.
About an hour after being rushed from the event on Saturday night, Trump had posted on Truth Social that the “shooter had been apprehended.”
WAS TRUMP THE TARGET?
Asked whether he believed he was the intended target, Trump replied, “I guess.” He said investigators were still looking into the motive, adding that the attacker was “probably a lone shooter” but that authorities would “find out.”
Trump said he and First Lady Melania Trump were “very quickly rushed off the stage” as security responded to the threat. Vice President JD Vance, State Secretary Marco Rubio, and other senior officials present at the dinner were also evacuated.
PROBABLY A LONE WOLF ACTOR
Trump said the suspect appeared to be a lone attacker. “They think he was a lone wolf actor and I think that too,” he said, while adding that the investigation would determine the full motive.
Washington interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said the suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives. He was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated but it was too soon to say what his motivation was. Based on preliminary information, he was believed to have been a guest at the hotel.
Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the probe is ongoing and charges will be filed shortly, with law enforcement working on search warrants. The FBI’s counter-terrorism unit is leading the investigation.
CHAOS INSIDE BALLROOM
Video footage showed panic inside the ballroom as gunshots triggered screams of “Get down, get down!” among the 2,600 attendees. Guests took cover under tables while security personnel formed protective cordons and evacuated top officials. Some attendees were seen chanting “USA, USA.”
Security personnel in combat gear stormed the stage as Trump, Melania Trump, and JD Vance were escorted out. Trump remained backstage for nearly an hour before later addressing the media in a late-night press conference.
CALL FOR CALM, SECURITY QUESTIONS RAISED
The dinner was ultimately cancelled, though Trump said he hoped it could be rescheduled within 30 days. Calling the attacker a “sick person”, Trump urged Americans to resolve differences peacefully, pointing to the bipartisan nature of the gathering.
At the same time, he raised concerns about venue security, saying it was “not a particularly secure building” and underscoring the need for stronger, more advanced protections at high-profile events.
FBI Director Kash Patel said agents are examining ballistic evidence, including the weapon and shell casings, and are conducting witness interviews as part of an ongoing investigation.
ATTACK AFTER RECENT ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS
The latest incident of shooting involving Trump comes amid heightened security concerns following two assassination attempts targeting him in 2024.
In one, he was shot and wounded at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, before the gunman was killed by security forces. In another, a man armed with a gun was intercepted near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The Washington Hilton itself has a history of such incidents — it was the site of the 1981 assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan, who was shot and wounded outside the hotel.
