Key Points
- Donald Trump safely evacuated after suspected gunfire at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
- Panic erupts as guests dive for cover inside Washington Hilton
- United States Secret Service detains suspected shooter
- Dinner cancelled; event to be rescheduled within 30 days
- Trump to address nation following incident; all top officials reported safe
WASHINGTON, D.C: A dramatic security scare disrupted the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night after suspected gunfire triggered panic inside the venue, forcing the evacuation of US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and hundreds of guests.
The incident unfolded at the Washington Hilton, where the high-profile gala — often dubbed the “Nerd Prom” — was being attended by around 2,600 journalists, officials and media executives.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as loud bangs were heard during the dinner programme, prompting guests to dive under tables while security personnel rushed into the ballroom with weapons drawn. Attendees were heard shouting “Get down, get down!” as panic spread across the hall.
According to pool reports and US media, tactical teams quickly secured the stage area while agents from the United States Secret Service escorted Trump and the First Lady out of the venue. Several senior administration officials were also evacuated amid the confusion.
Video footage from a live broadcast showed Melania Trump reacting to the disturbance with visible concern moments before security personnel moved in. Trump himself was seen bending behind the dais before being swiftly taken away.
In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump confirmed that he was safe and praised the swift response of law enforcement agencies. He stated that the suspected shooter had been apprehended and that authorities were handling the situation.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 26, 2026
“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely,” Trump wrote, adding that while he had initially suggested continuing the event, the final decision would rest with security officials.
Shortly afterwards, he announced that law enforcement had ordered a full evacuation of the premises in line with protocol.
BREAKING: President Trump and First Lady are rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
It is unclear what led up to the evacuation, but attendees of the event were seen on video feed ducking and covering around their tables. pic.twitter.com/GbbXmL223t
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 26, 2026
“The First Lady, the Vice President, and all Cabinet members are in perfect condition,” he said, adding that he would address the nation in a press briefing within 30 minutes from the White House.
The dinner was subsequently cancelled, with Trump indicating it would be rescheduled within the next 30 days.
Earlier, some foreign media outlets, including Russian sources, claimed that the attacker had been killed by security forces after opening fire.
However, these reports were contradicted by Trump’s statement that the suspect had been taken into custody. US authorities have yet to release an official detailed account of the incident.
Initial, unconfirmed reports suggested that at least one person may have been injured, though it remains unclear whether the injury was directly related to gunfire or the ensuing panic.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 26, 2026
Witnesses reported a heavy security presence outside the hotel, with police vehicles flooding the area and helicopters hovering overhead as the situation unfolded.
The disruption occurred shortly after the opening remarks and before Trump was scheduled to deliver his speech. According to one cabinet official, Mehmet Oz, there were reports of “shots fired upstairs” as he was being escorted out.
The venue itself carries historical significance, having been the site of the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
Suspect identified and arrested
US authorities identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from Torrance, California. Law enforcement officials confirmed that he has been taken into custody.
According to early reports, the suspect was armed with multiple weapons and fired at a security checkpoint near the entrance to the event. One Secret Service officer was reportedly struck while wearing a bullet-resistant vest and is expected to recover.
The alleged shooter lies prone on the floor after being subdued by Secret Service agents. — TruthSocial/@RealDonaldTrump
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said preliminary charges include firearms offences and assault on a law enforcement officer with a dangerous weapon, though she indicated that further charges are likely as the investigation continues. The suspect is expected to appear in federal court on Monday.
Suspect identified as California tutor, programmer
Social media profiles and publicly available records that appear to match the California man arrested on Saturday in connection with the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner indicate that he is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer.
A May 2025 profile photograph of Cole Tomas Allen, a resident of Torrance, California, appears to correspond with the image of the alleged attacker being taken into custody, which was shared on Saturday night by US President Donald Trump on social media.
According to AP, the LinkedIn photograph shows Allen wearing a graduation cap and gown after completing a master’s degree in computer science from California State University-Dominguez Hills.
Allen, aged 31, also holds a bachelor’s degree awarded in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.
During his time at the institute, he reportedly participated in a Christian student fellowship and was involved in a campus group known for recreational activities that included Nerf gun battles.
An interview broadcast by a local ABC affiliate in Los Angeles during Allen’s final year of undergraduate study featured him discussing emerging technologies designed to assist elderly individuals.
In that segment, he had presented a prototype for an innovative emergency braking system intended for wheelchairs.
According to his online résumé, Allen has spent the past six years employed at C2 Education, an organisation providing admissions guidance and test preparation services for prospective college students.
A 2024 Facebook post by the company identified him as its “teacher of the month”. The organisation has not yet responded to requests for comment. Allen has also been active in software development and gaming projects.
He reportedly created a video game available on the Steam platform, centred around molecular chemistry. In addition, posts attributed to him describe ongoing work on a “top-down shooter” style combat game set in a science fiction, outer space environment.
Incident revives past threats against Trump
The shooting incident also revived memories of previous threats against Trump. During a 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, he survived an assassination attempt in which a gunman opened fire, killing a supporter and grazing Trump’s ear. The attacker was later shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.
In a separate incident months later, another suspect was arrested after being spotted with a rifle near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach.
Saturday’s event marked Trump’s first attendance at the correspondents’ dinner while in office, breaking with his previous pattern of avoiding the gathering. His invitation this year had already sparked controversy among journalists, with some criticising the move in light of his frequent attacks on the media.
Organisers from the White House Correspondents’ Association had earlier indicated that the event might continue despite the disruption. However, the security situation ultimately led to its cancellation.
Authorities are expected to provide further details as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
