President Donald Trump called the shooting at the White House press dinner in Washington, D.C., an "attempted assassination" by a "mentally ill person" after a man rushed the security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons. The suspect was stopped and detained by Secret Service agents. The suspect was identified as a teacher from California.
A glamorous evening at the Washington Hilton hotel turned chaotic when gunfire erupted during the annual White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner as President Donald Trump sat on stage before a crowd of guests dressed in evening gowns and tuxedos.
The assailant was identified as 31-year-old Cole Allen, a teacher living in a southwestern suburb of Los Angeles, California. He used a moment in an unattended bar cart storage area to assemble a long-barrel firearm before storming the security checkpoint and opening fire in an attempt to enter the main banquet hall. Washington D.C. police said the suspect was armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knife.
Eyewitnesses said the gunshots turned the elegant event, full of guests in formal attire, into chaos. Many attendees dropped to the floor amid shouts of “Get down!” while Secret Service agents, fully armed, quickly surrounded President Trump and escorted him offstage through a backstage curtain, all while important guests including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health Secretary, and other senior officials sought shelter under tables.
After the incident, hundreds of attendees were evacuated from the banquet hall to safe areas as police sealed off the venue and security forces intensified their presence. Officials confirmed that the U.S. leader and all VIPs were safe.
Authorities confirmed that one of the bullets struck a uniformed officer wearing body armor. The Secret Service agent is currently hospitalized due to injuries sustained during the shooting.
Once the situation was under control, Trump held a press conference alongside the FBI director, describing the event as an assassination attempt by a "mentally ill lone gunman." He admitted initially hoping the noise was a falling tray but soon realized it was gunfire.
Trump said the venue "was not a high-security building," emphasizing the need to enhance security measures. He referenced plans underway to build a new banquet hall at the White House that would have much stricter security systems.
Trump shared that "I fought with all my might to stay on stage," but agents evacuated him according to safety protocols. He also noted the incident had a significant psychological impact on First Lady Melania Trump but affirmed he would not be intimidated, saying, "I do this for the country."
Asked why he has been targeted multiple times, referencing incidents in Butler, Pennsylvania, and while golfing in Palm Beach, Trump said he has studied assassination history and believes those who impact the world most are often targeted, citing Abraham Lincoln as an example.
He concluded with a striking statistic that about 5.8% of U.S. presidents have been shot at, illustrating the dangers of the role as greater than those faced by racecar drivers or bull riders, yet he is willing to accept the risks as commander-in-chief.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blantz said the night's events exposed both the "worst"—the use of violence—and the "best"—the decisive action of law enforcement. He promised to prosecute Cole Allen to the fullest extent. The mayor of Washington, D.C., stated the suspect is receiving medical treatment at a nearby hospital and remains in police custody.
The dinner will be rescheduled within the next 30 days. Trump joked, "Next time, I might speak more boringly and behave better—for safety." Media and the White House are closely monitoring the increased security measures that will follow.
Washington U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the suspect faces two charges: using a firearm to commit a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. She said he will appear in federal court on 27 Apr.
:sourceBBC/New York Post