Donald Trump
Susan Abayomi
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were unharmed Saturday night after a gunman opened fire at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. The suspect was tackled and taken into custody after firing a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a checkpoint near the ballroom entrance. The agent was hit but saved by his bulletproof vest and is in “good shape,” Trump said.
The shooting occurred at the Washington Hilton — the same hotel where Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. As shots rang out, Trump and other attendees took cover behind their table while people yelled “Get down!”. Secret Service officers rushed in, provided cover, and hustled Trump and the first lady out of the ballroom. Vice President JD Vance was also escorted off the dais by security. Al Jazeera’s producer said he heard 5 gunshots and “we could smell the powder” directly behind the ballroom doors.
Authorities identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said Allen was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation but was not shot. U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro said he will face federal charges including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on federal officers using a dangerous weapon. He is set to be arraigned in federal court Monday.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said law enforcement believes Allen “set out to target folks that work in the administration, likely including the President”. Trump told Fox News the suspect had an “anti-Christian manifesto” and called himself the “Friendly Federal Assassin”. The manifesto reportedly mocked the hotel’s security and listed administration officials as targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest. Allen allegedly traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago, then to Washington.
Investigators are examining how Allen smuggled weapons into the hotel. While there was “airport-level” security at the ballroom, the lower level where the ballroom is located was accessible to anyone with a ticket to the dinner. Video posted by Trump showed the suspect running past security before agents drew guns and opened fire.
Trump told reporters he believed he was the target and called Allen “a sick guy”. FBI Director Kash Patel said officers are examining Allen’s background and urged the public to share information. The White House Correspondents’ dinner, which Trump was attending for the first time as president, will be rescheduled in 30 days. This marks the third attempt on Trump’s life since 2024.
