President Donald Trump was swiftly escorted off the stage on Saturday, 25th of April, 2026 by the Secret Service after shots were fired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night. Vice President JD Vance and several Cabinet members who were also in attendance were rushed out as well.
One member of the Secret Service agents was shot and hospitalized, though authorities confirmed no other injuries. The agent was protected by his bulletproof vest, and Trump later said he was in good spirits.
The suspect charged at a Secret Service checkpoint in the hotel’s lobby armed with multiple weapons, exchanged gunfire with law enforcement, and was then tackled and taken into custody. He is believed to have acted alone.
Officials identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. Trump described him as a “lone wolf” at a hastily organized press conference at the White House.
Allen faces federal charges including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, with U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro indicating more charges are likely. He is set to be arraigned on Monday.
Speaking to reporters at the White House briefing room, Trump said he “fought like hell” to stay at the dinner, where he had been set to speak for the first time as a sitting president, but that law enforcement insisted he leave. He praised Secret Service for their rapid response, saying the suspect was “taken down” quickly.
Trump vowed the dinner would be rescheduled, saying, “We’re not going to let anybody take over our society. We’re not going to cancel things.”
This marks the third time an armed threat has been directed at Trump since his 2024 campaign.
