TLDR
- Shots were fired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night
- President Trump and Vice President JD Vance were evacuated and were not hurt
- A Secret Service officer was shot but saved by his bulletproof vest
- Suspect Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, is in custody and told authorities he was targeting Trump officials
- The dinner was cancelled but Trump said it will be rescheduled within 30 days
At least half a dozen shots were fired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington DC on Saturday night. President Donald Trump was quickly removed from the event by Secret Service agents.
3rd Time In 2 Years – Is The US President The Most Targeted Man On The Planet?
Shots fired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (April 25, Washington Hilton).
What happened:
→ 5+ gunshots near the security area at 8:35 PM ET
→ Secret Service rushed Trump off stage… pic.twitter.com/rnXoMOvY2d— Crypto Patel (@CryptoPatel) April 26, 2026
The shooting happened at around 8:35pm ET at the Washington Hilton. The shots were fired near a security checkpoint in the lobby, not inside the ballroom where the dinner was taking place.
Trump had been seated at the main table with First Lady Melania Trump when Secret Service agents flooded the room. The banquet table was empty within two minutes.
Update from President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/JbNmA6DYdn
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 26, 2026
Vice President JD Vance was also at the event and was evacuated safely. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were among other senior officials escorted out through emergency exits.
One Secret Service officer was shot at close range. He was wearing a bulletproof vest and is expected to recover fully.
Suspect Identified
The suspect has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California. He was subdued by Secret Service at the scene. He told authorities he was targeting Trump officials, according to CBS News.
🔥 “SHOTS FIRED” COMMENT BEFORE TRUMP SPEECH TURNS HEADS
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hyped up Donald Trump’s speech minutes before it began, warning there would be “shots fired in the room.”
Shortly after, REAL gunshots erupted at the White House… pic.twitter.com/LkvjvbOBPQ
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) April 26, 2026
Allen was armed with multiple weapons, Trump confirmed. FBI agents and police are searching an address in Torrance, California. He is expected to be formally charged in court on Monday.
CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer had left the ballroom and was near the lobby when the shots were fired. A police officer pushed him to the ground and took him to a secure location. Blitzer said he witnessed officers overpower the gunman.
Around 2,600 guests were at the dinner. Many ducked under tables when the shots rang out. Members of the National Guard and other law enforcement flooded the area outside the hotel as helicopters circled overhead.
Trump Addresses Press After Evacuation
Trump held an impromptu press conference in the James Brady Press Room at the White House shortly after 10:30pm. He was still in his tuxedo, joined by FBI Director Kash Patel and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
Trump said he initially thought he heard a tray drop before realizing it was gunfire. He praised the Secret Service for their quick response.
On Truth Social, Trump posted that he had recommended the dinner continue but would follow law enforcement guidance. The event was ultimately cancelled.
Trump said a rescheduled dinner would take place within 30 days. White House Correspondents’ Association president Weijia Jiang confirmed everyone was safe and the event would be rescheduled.
The Washington Hilton was also the site of the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
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