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Shooting at White House Correspondents’ Dinner Prompts Evacuation of President Trump
A shooting incident disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Saturday night, April 25, 2026, forcing US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other senior officials to be swiftly evacuated from the ballroom at the Washington Hilton.
Gunshots rang out around 8:40 p.m. EDT near the main magnetometer security checkpoint as the high-profile event attended by hundreds of journalists, politicians, and celebrities was underway.
Secret Service agents rushed onto the stage, escorting the president and his party to safety amid chaotic scenes of guests taking cover under tables.
No injuries to attendees inside the ballroom have been reported. Only a agent was struck and is expected to make a full recovery
Authorities quickly took a suspect into custody. He has been identified as Cole Thomas Allen (frame 2 and 3), a 31-year-old teacher and tutor from Torrance, California in the United States.
According to D.C. police and federal officials, Allen was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. He allegedly charged a Secret Service checkpoint, leading to an exchange of gunfire in which one agent was struck in a bulletproof vest.
Interim D.C. Police Chief Jeffery Carroll described Allen as acting alone. Allen faces charges including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer. President Trump later addressed the incident at a White House press conference, calling the suspect a “lone wolf whack job” and praising the quick response of law enforcement.
The annual dinner, traditionally a night of celebrity roasts and political satire, was abruptly canceled. Investigations by the Secret Service, FBI, and Metropolitan Police Department are ongoing.
This marks a significant security breach at one of Washington’s premier media events, which President Trump attended as a sitting president for the first time since his return to office.
