US President Donald Trump and several senior officials were evacuated from the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington on Saturday evening, April 25, 2026, following a shooting incident inside the Washington Hilton hotel, where the event was being held.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:40 PM Eastern Time when gunshots were fired near the metal security detectors at the hotel’s main entrance, before the suspect could reach the ballroom. CNN correspondent Wolf Blitzer reported that he was just a few meters away from the suspect when the individual fired what he described as a “very dangerous weapon” at least six times before being taken down by security forces. Fox News anchor Bret Baier, reporting from inside the hall, stated that the sound of the gunshots did not originate from within the room.
Secret Service agents immediately surrounded President Trump and escorted him off the main stage, while armed guards carrying assault rifles deployed onto the platform. Several prominent officials were evacuated to secure suites within the hotel, including:
- JD Vance, Vice President
- Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
- Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense
- Kash Patel, FBI Director
Roughly 2,600 invited guests abandoned their meals in panic and took cover under tables, while some attendees began chanting, “God Bless America.”
Authorities later identified the suspect as Cole Thomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, who was stopped at the security screening checkpoint.
A security officer was shot at close range, but his bulletproof vest protected him from severe injury. President Trump later confirmed that he had spoken with the officer and that he is doing well. No other injuries were reported among the attendees.
President Trump quickly posted on the Truth Social platform, praising the performance of the Secret Service and announcing the suspect’s arrest. He later held a press conference in the White House briefing room, stating that the incident “was unexpected, but the Secret Service and security forces acted with extreme courage and speed.” Trump announced his intention to reschedule the dinner within 30 days.
Additionally, the FBI confirmed the suspect’s arrest and stated that its Washington field office had opened an investigation into the incident.
It is worth noting that this was President Trump’s first time attending the White House Correspondents’ Dinner as president. In 2024, Trump survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, where he was struck by a bullet in his right ear in an incident that claimed the life of one rally attendee.
