Gunfire Erupts Outside White House Correspondents’ Dinner; Trump and Guests Safe
A suspect opened fire outside the ballroom of Washington D.C.’s Hilton Hotel during the annual gala, sending guests diving under tables as Secret Service agents swiftly secured the President
The annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner was thrown into chaos on Saturday evening when a gunman opened fire outside the hotel ballroom where President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice President JD Vance were attending the prestigious event.
According to news agency AP, the shooter fired outside the ballroom while Trump and guests remained inside. Secret Service agents rapidly cordoned off the room, evacuating cabinet members including Scott Bessent, Kash Patel, Pete Hegseth, and Steve Witkoff one by one. Trump was escorted off the stage and out of the venue.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic. ANI reporter Reena Bhardwaj recounted hearing a loud bang she initially mistook for falling utensils, before noticing waiters rushing for cover. CNN’s White House Chief Correspondent Kaitlan Collins, who was inside the ballroom, reported that agents flooded the room within minutes of the shots being heard, while several cabinet officials lay flat on the floor beneath their tables.
Speaking to the media roughly ninety minutes after the incident, Trump said the attack was an assault on the American Constitution, praising the Secret Service for saving his life. He confirmed that a security officer who was shot had been wearing a bulletproof vest and was safe. Trump subsequently shared a photo of the suspect on Truth Social, identified as Cole Thomas Allen from California.
Trump later posted on social media: “It was quite an eventful evening in Washington. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job.” He also suggested the event continue following the incident.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed relief that Trump and all others were safe, adding that there is no place for violence in a democracy and that such acts must be condemned in the strongest terms.
This marks the second major security incident involving Trump, following the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a bullet grazed his right ear.
