Chaos and panic erupted in Washington at the annual White House correspondents’ dinner, attended by US President Donald Trump, his wife, Vice President J.D. Vance, and top cabinet officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The disruption occurred when an armed man attempted to enter the venue and was arrested after shooting a law enforcement officer.
The American president later described the incident as the action of a “potential assassin,” emphasizing that Democracy has repeatedly been targeted by similar attacks.
“This is not the first time in recent years that our Democracy has been attacked by a potential assassin seeking to kill,” Trump declared, still wearing his tuxedo, during a press conference at the White House approximately two hours after the incident.
Before him stood reporters in bow ties and evening gowns who, like him, were invited guests at this dinner attended by the “cream of the crop” of Washington politics and media.
The American president clarified that a law enforcement officer was wounded by gunfire, though it was later announced that his life was not in danger.
According to him, the gunman, now identified as Cole Allen, was a “lone wolf” and “deranged.” Notably, the perpetrator himself told police after his arrest that he wanted to shoot Trump administration officials, CBS News reported today, citing two sources.
Timeline of the White House correspondents’ dinner attack – “Down, down”
The annual White House correspondents’ dinner had just begun, according to French Press Agency reporters present, when loud commotion was heard at the hall entrances.
Shouts of “Down! Down!” were heard. Guests immediately lay down or knelt on the floor and got under tables while many held up their cell phones to record, as the president and First Lady Melania Trump, seated at the head table on an elevated platform facing the guests, were evacuated by security.
Heavily armed Secret Service agents entered the hall. Law enforcement then ordered the guests – journalists, cabinet members, politicians, and various dignitaries – to evacuate the massive hall located in the hotel’s first basement level.
Video of the perpetrator entering the event venue:
BREAKING: President Trump has posted a video of what appears to be CCTV footage of the alleged gunman entering the White House correspondents’ dinner.@Stone_SkyNews has the latest live from Washington.
Latest updates: https://t.co/MWpmYeUOr9 pic.twitter.com/eER77RMGBw
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 26, 2026
In French Press Agency video, President Trump can be seen seated at the head table with, among others, Vice President J.D. Vance and spokesperson Caroline Leavitt, along with journalists, as shots are heard that initially cause no reaction.
Only seconds later do the diners appear to realize there’s an incident, with anxiety clearly visible on Melania Trump’s face.
Trump evacuation timeline
Heavily armed security agents then intervene very quickly and remove the president toward the left side of the platform. The ambient music stops and other agents climb over the table and appear to aim their weapons at the crowd.
BREAKING: Shots were fired outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night.
President Trump and his cabinet were safely evacuated after the sound of gunfire sent attendees scurrying and ducking under tables. CBS News’ @NicoleSganga reports from inside. pic.twitter.com/PFa090W4Qz
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 26, 2026
Police surrounded the area and helicopters flew overhead in the downtown area of the capital.
The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) organizes this spring dinner for politicians and journalists attended by hundreds each year, with Donald Trump, who constantly attacks the press, attending for the first time as president.
BREAKING: Police seen running through the Washington Hilton where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is being held after reports of shots fired. pic.twitter.com/sWtLsAzBjK
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 26, 2026
Reactions inside the hall after the shooting:
View from the ground as Trump senior staff and cabinet members evacuated tonight, including Kennedy, Blanche, Stephen and Katie Miller, and Pete Hegseth. pic.twitter.com/p70geTnIF4
— Tony Dokoupil (@tonydokoupil) April 26, 2026
Trump: “Shooting won’t stop me from winning war against Iran”
Donald Trump assured that the shooting at the Washington press dinner would not deter him from the war against Iran, although he believes the incident is unrelated to the international crisis.
“This won’t stop me from winning the war in Iran,” the American president told reporters hours after the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, from which he was hastily evacuated.
“I don’t know if it had any connection to that, I really don’t believe it, based on what we know,” he added.
Minutes earlier he had answered “you never know,” when asked if he believed the shooting was connected to the Iran war, which he began on February 28 with Israel.
“I do dangerous work”
Donald Trump also referenced the rise in political violence, emphasizing that this is a phenomenon affecting all countries. “No country is immune,” he stated.
The American president characterized the office of US President as a “dangerous profession,” noting that his policies make him a target.
“It’s part of the game,” he said, adding: “We will continue to do very good work. That’s all I can do.”
He said he initially thought the sound of gunshots came from a dropped plate, while joking that when journalists and officials gather again for dinner, they’ll make sure it’s “more secure.”
“Multiple weapons”
Shortly before this press briefing, he published security camera footage on his Truth Social network showing a man rushing through the metal detector at the hall entrance and security forces drawing their weapons.
“It was, in a way, very beautiful, really beautiful to see a man rushing a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons and being neutralized by some very brave Secret Service members, who acted very quickly,” the American president said, referring to the USSS, the United States Secret Service, an elite federal law enforcement agency responsible for protecting him and his administration members.
Same hotel as Reagan assassination attempt
The Washington Hilton hotel, where the cancelled dinner was being held, “is not a particularly safe building,” Donald Trump criticized. However, he acknowledged that the security apparatus “was very secure,” saying security members stopped the gunman before he entered the large reception hall where he was located.
In front of this hotel, President Ronald Reagan was wounded in 1981 by a bullet in an assassination attempt.
Perpetrator to face justice tomorrow – His profile
The White House correspondents’ dinner shooter will appear in court tomorrow, Monday, US authorities announced during a press conference.
Two charges will be filed against him: the first for use of a firearm in a violent crime and the second for assaulting a federal agent with a dangerous weapon, clarified US capital prosecutor Jeanine Pirro.
The gunman who opened fire at the annual White House correspondents’ dinner Saturday night has been identified as Cole Allen, 31, from Torrance, California.
According to authorities, Allen works as a teacher. He was arrested after allegedly entering the Washington Hilton hotel and moving toward the hall where approximately 2,500 guests were located, including the American president and government members.
A LinkedIn profile matching his name and photo shows him as a part-time educator at C2 Education, a test preparation and tutoring support company. C2 had named Allen “educator of the month” in December 2024, according to their social media posts. Late Saturday night, the company could not be reached by phone.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter was armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives, according to DC police chief Jeffrey Carroll.
The shooter was identified as 31-year-old teacher Cole Allen from Torrance, California.
The suspect emerged from a “makeshift… pic.twitter.com/aUK5m6AwCr
