Gunman opens fire at Trump dinner, officer shot

Washington DC – US President Donald Trump was rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington DC on Saturday night after an armed man fired shots and attempted to breach a Secret Service checkpoint.

The suspect, identified by American media as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California, was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives when he rushed the checkpoint at approximately 8:36pm local time. A Secret Service uniformed division officer was struck in his bulletproof vest during an exchange of gunfire and was transported to a local hospital, where he was said to be in good spirits. The suspect was not hit by gunfire but was also taken to hospital for evaluation.

Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance were all escorted out of the event unharmed. The president later stepped into the White House briefing room, still dressed in formal attire, to address the media.

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“The man has been captured. They go into his apartment. I guess he lives in California, and he’s a sick person. A very sick person. And we don’t want things like this to happen,” Trump told reporters.

When asked whether he was the intended target, Trump responded: “I guess.” He added that law enforcement believed the shooter acted alone and that the incident was not linked to the war on Iran.

Trump said he wanted the dinner to continue but the Secret Service insisted he return to the White House.

“We’re going to reschedule. We’re gonna do it again. We’re not gonna let anybody take over our society. We’re not gonna cancel things out,” he said.

Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed that the suspect rushed a Secret Service checkpoint in the hotel lobby and was stopped by agents. Acting Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said investigators believe the suspect had been staying at the hotel, which appears to be how he gained access during the event. Carroll added that it was too early to determine the suspect’s motivation or intended target.

US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Ferris said the suspect would face two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. She said he would be arraigned in federal district court on Monday, with more charges expected as the investigation progressed.

“It is clear, based upon what we know so far, that this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,” Ferris said, adding that only the checkpoint outside the hotel prevented what could have been a “horrific event.”

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that agents were deployed to the scene and were examining ballistics, including the long gun and shell casings found at the hotel, while conducting witness interviews.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who attended the dinner with his wife, said he was grateful for the swift response from law enforcement.

“We’re grateful as always for the law enforcement and first responders who acted so quickly to bring the situation under control. Praying for our country tonight,” Johnson said.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham pointed to what he described as rising political tensions in the country.

“The only thing I’m certain of is that the times in which we live are creating a stream of threats that are unprecedented against President Trump and other government officials,” Graham said. “To the brave law enforcement officers who were there to protect, well done. To the American people, let’s all pray for calmer waters and try to be part of the solution, not the problem.”

Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also reacted, saying: “Thankful for the swift law enforcement action to protect everyone from gunfire at the White House Correspondents Dinner. Praying for the safety of those who may remain in harm’s way. The violence and chaos in America must end.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed “great relief” at the safety of all those present. “The brave men and women of the United States Secret Service and local law enforcement are to be commended for their swift action to secure the scene and protect those present,” she said. “As someone whose family has suffered political violence, my prayers are with the injured officer and all those affected by the trauma of these horrible incidents.”

Pelosi was referring to the 2022 hammer attack on her husband Paul at their San Francisco home, which left him with a fractured skull requiring surgery.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also reacted on social media, writing: “Political violence is absolutely unacceptable. I am glad the President and guests at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner are safe.”

The Washington Hilton holds a grim place in American political history. It was outside the same hotel that John Hinckley Jr attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981, earning the venue the nickname the Reagan Hotel. Al Jazeera correspondent Alan Fisher, reporting from Washington, described Saturday’s incident as the third attempt on Trump’s life, with the Secret Service having prevented all three.