On the evening of April 25, 2026, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were swiftly evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., following reports of gunfire directed at security personnel. The incident occurred at approximately 8:36 PM local time during an event attended by around 2,600 guests.
As the sounds resembling gunshots echoed through the hotel lobby of the Washington Hill venue, Secret Service agents promptly moved to evacuate the President and First Lady, while attendees sought shelter under tables in response to the chaos.
Among the attendees were Vice President J.D. Vance, various Cabinet members, and senior administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, White House Press Secretary Carolina Levitt, White House Communications Director Steven Chung, and FBI Director Kash Patel.
Following the incident, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and U.S. Attorney Janine Pirro held a briefing to provide updates on the situation, confirming the arrest of the shooter and detailing the events that transpired. According to their statements, the suspect, armed with a rifle, a handgun, and several knives, attempted to breach a Secret Service checkpoint in the hotel lobby. While agents apprehended the shooter, one Secret Service officer sustained injuries during the exchange of gunfire and has since been hospitalized, reportedly in stable condition.
“At this point, we know that the individual attacked the checkpoint with a firearm in hand. He was moving toward the ballroom where the President and other Cabinet members were located. However, we cannot specify his exact motivation at this time, though investigations are ongoing,” the officials stated during the briefing.
In response to inquiries from reporters regarding how the individual gained access to the hotel, the U.S. Attorney indicated that preliminary information suggests he may have been a guest at the venue.
Details about the suspect remain limited, as officials did not disclose his identity during the briefing, stating only that he had no prior legal issues or involvement in similar incidents. According to sources cited by the Associated Press, the suspect is believed to be 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen from Torrance, California.
Further updates will follow as the investigation continues.
A shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner led to the evacuation of President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. The suspect has been arrested, and investigations are ongoing regarding his motives and background.
Source: Reuters