US President Donald Trump was rushed from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after gunshots were fired inside the venue, in a dramatic security scare that left a Secret Service officer wounded and kept guests locked down for over an hour.
The incident unfolded late on Saturday night at the Washington Hilton in Washington DC, where hundreds of journalists, media figures and government officials had gathered for the annual event.
Mr Trump, attending the dinner for the first time as president, was swiftly escorted out, along with senior officials, including Vice President JD Vance.
Witnesses reported hearing loud bangs shortly after 01:35 BST as a suspect allegedly forced his way into the hotel foyer, attempting to bypass security checkpoints and metal detectors. Armed agents drew their weapons as chaos briefly erupted inside the building.
Authorities said one of the shots struck a uniformed United States Secret Service officer at close range. The officer, wearing body armour, avoided serious injury and was taken to hospital, where he is said to be in good spirits.
🚨UPDATE: President Trump rushed off stage by Secret Service, following reports of shots fired at the White House Correspondents Dinner.
SHOOTER IS DOWN — CNN
President Trump and VP JD Vance are reportedly safe.
God bless President Trump. pic.twitter.com/2vTIAjFgfS
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) April 26, 2026
The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California, was arrested at the scene. Officials said he was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and several knives. Police believe he acted alone and have confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Jeanine Pirro said the suspect is expected to face multiple charges, including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting federal officers with a dangerous weapon. He is due to appear in federal court on Monday.
Jeffery W. Carroll, the Metropolitan Police Department’s interim chief, said the suspect was not shot during the arrest.
Guests in the ballroom were held in place for about an hour until security personnel cleared the venue.
Sean Curran praised the agents on the ground, saying they “performed admirably” under pressure. He added that it was “very fortunate” that the injured officer survived.
Shortly after the incident, Mr Trump shared CCTV footage that appeared to show the suspect moving past security barriers as officers responded. Images later circulated showing a man restrained on the foyer floor.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Trump downplayed the incident’s personal impact.
“I like not to think about it,” he said. “I lead a pretty normal life considering — it’s a dangerous life. I think I handle it as well as it can be handled.”
He added that at first he believed the sound might have been something innocuous. “I was hoping it was a tray, but it wasn’t,” he said.
The president described the suspect as a “lone wolf”, adding: “These are crazy people who have to be dealt with.”
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is one of Washington’s most prominent annual events, raising funds for journalism scholarships. The venue itself has historic resonance: the Washington Hilton was also the site of Ronald Reagan’s 1981 assassination attempt.
The incident is likely to prompt renewed scrutiny of security arrangements at high-profile political events in the US capital.
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