U.S. President Donald Trump was evacuated Saturday night from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton after an armed suspect charged a security checkpoint, triggering gunfire, panic and a massive law enforcement response.
Authorities said the suspect, identified by law enforcement officials as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, approached a Secret Service screening area carrying a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives. He was confronted and tackled before he could breach the ballroom where the president, senior officials and hundreds of journalists were gathered.
Gunshots rang out near the magnetometer screening area shortly after the dinner began, sending attendees diving under tables as agents rushed in with weapons drawn. Cabinet officials and guests were evacuated in stages as security personnel secured the hotel and established a perimeter.
A Secret Service agent was struck during the exchange of gunfire but survived after a bullet-resistant vest absorbed the impact. The officer was taken to a hospital and was later reported to be in good condition. The suspect was also taken to a hospital for evaluation after being subdued.
In a late-night briefing at the White House, Trump said the attacker “charged at a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons” and praised law enforcement for acting “very quickly” to neutralize the threat. He said the gunman did not come close to reaching him and described the response as “incredible.”
“I heard a noise and thought it was a tray,” Trump said, recounting the moment shots were fired. “It turned out to be a gun. Some people [realized] it immediately.”
Trump said he and First Lady Melania Trump were swiftly escorted out by Secret Service agents, along with Vice President JD Vance and other officials. He added that he wanted the event to continue but was advised by security to leave.
“I fought like hell to stay,” he said, noting that he did not want violence to “change the fabric of our life.”
The president later confirmed that the suspect had been apprehended and described him as “a very sick person.” He said authorities were already investigating the suspect’s background, including his residence in California.
D.C. Police Chief Jeffery W. Carroll said the suspect was a registered guest at the hotel and that his room had been secured as part of the investigation. He added there was no indication of additional threats, although police increased presence around related events in the capital as a precaution.
Officials said the suspect appeared to have acted alone, though the motive remains under investigation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Secret Service are leading the probe, with agents collecting ballistic evidence and interviewing witnesses.
D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the suspect will face charges including use of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. He is expected to be arraigned in federal court on Monday, with additional charges likely to follow.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran commended agents for their actions, saying they “performed admirably” in protecting those at the event.
The Washington Hilton was placed under lockdown following the incident, with hundreds of attendees temporarily held inside as law enforcement secured the scene. Some guests later exited in stages after authorities deemed it safe.
Trump also raised concerns about the venue’s security, saying it was “not a particularly secure building,” and reiterated the need for more secure facilities for high-profile events.
Despite the disruption, some after-parties linked to the annual dinner proceeded, though organizers said the evening would be “much different than planned.”
No other injuries among attendees were reported.