President Donald Trump was rushed from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night amid gunshots at the Washington Hilton.
Chaos unfolded as attendees ducked behind tables and journalists scrambled for answers. Despite initial reports that a shooter was killed in the hotel lobby, Trump and the Secret Service later said an individual was in custody.
Authorities believe the suspect, identified by The AP as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, was a guest at the hotel and worked alone. He was not struck by gunfire, while a Secret Service agent was struck in the bulletproof vest; both men are being treated at a nearby hospital. Officials are currently executing search warrants at the attempted shooter’s residence in Torrance, California, to determine a motive after he rushed the building carrying a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives, per Interim Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department Jeffery W. Carroll.
According to U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, Allen is facing two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. His arraignment is set for Monday, with many more charges to come as the investigation unfolds.
“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended.”
Though Trump added “LET THE SHOW GO ON,” the dinner was later called off.
CBS News’ Weijia Jiang, who serves as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, told attendees that “law enforcement has requested that we leave the premises and [Trump] wanted to emphasize that nobody was hurt.”
Jiang said “Trump the First Lady, the Cabinet everybody is safe,” and noted that the president would hold “a press briefing at the White House in 30 minutes,” which drew some laughter from the crowd.
“That is not a joke,” she continued. “He insists that we will reschedule the event in the next 30 days and that he wanted to do it. He wanted to continue, but has to follow security protocol.”
Trump echoed these sentiments in his own Truth Social post, writing, “The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition. We will be speaking to you in a half an hour. I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days.”
In the aftermath of the incident, alleged footage of the shooting suspect surfaced on X, showing the person shirtless, surrounded by secret service agents and other officials. Trump then uploaded a photo and video footage of the suspect on Truth Social, which also showed him shirtless laying face down on the floor.
Additionally, NBC News reported late Saturday evening that the suspect was being treated at the hospital for an alleged gunshot wound.
Video of alleged shooter on the ground at WHCD pic.twitter.com/TTPJNUx4Jx
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) April 26, 2026
On CNN, Wolf Blitzer offered a harrowing first-hand account of the shooting. Blitzer recalled leaving the ballroom to use the bathroom when he heard gunshots, and said police threw him to the ground and covered him. “I was very close to him when the gunshots were fired,” he said.
