Dare Babalola
Donald Trump was evacuated by security agents after gunfire broke out during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night.
The incident occurred at the Washington Hilton, where the black-tie event was being held.
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were swiftly escorted from the venue by the United States Secret Service after a suspect opened fire near a security checkpoint.
According to officials, the assailant discharged a shotgun at a Secret Service agent before being subdued and arrested.
Trump later told reporters that the officer survived the attack due to wearing a bulletproof vest and was in stable condition.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from the Los Angeles area.
Preliminary information suggests he may have worked as a teacher in Torrance, California, though investigators say details about his background remain limited.
Washington’s interim Police Chief, Jeffery Carroll, disclosed that the suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation, and officials said it was too early to determine a motive.
Carroll added that early findings indicate the suspect may have been a registered guest at the hotel.
Investigators are now focused on how he managed to bypass security with multiple weapons at an event attended by senior government officials and prominent media figures.
It remains unclear whether Trump was the intended target, although the president suggested he believed he may have been.
The incident follows two prior assassination attempts against him since 2024.
The dinner, which drew members of Trump’s cabinet and other top officials, marked his first attendance as president after years of absence.
Following the disruption, Trump later addressed reporters at the White House alongside Vice President JD Vance and cabinet members.
The venue has historical significance, having been the site of the 1981 assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan, who was shot and wounded outside the same hotel.
Eyewitness videos showed panic inside the ballroom as gunshots rang out, prompting guests to take cover under tables while security personnel secured the area.
Trump, the First Lady, and other officials were quickly moved off the stage, and attendees were escorted out.
Closed-circuit footage later released showed the suspect advancing through a checkpoint before being stopped by security.
“You know, he charged from 50 yards away… he was really moving,” Trump said after the event was cancelled.
Officials believe the suspect acted alone. Trump remained backstage for about an hour before eventually leaving, later stating he had initially been reluctant to exit the event.
The president referenced a previous 2024 incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he sustained a gunshot wound to the ear during a campaign rally.
Another attempted attack was also foiled later that year at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, where an armed suspect was arrested and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.
