Trump Evacuated After Gunman Opens Fire at White House Correspondents Dinner

Security Breach Disrupts Annual Journalism Gala

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were safely evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Association dinner Saturday night following a shooting outside the ballroom of the Washington Hilton Hotel. The president and first lady were whisked off the stage by Secret Service agents as the sound of gunfire sent dinner attendees ducking under tables.

The suspect charged a U.S. Secret Service checkpoint in the hotel's lobby with multiple weapons, interim Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said at a news conference. "He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives," Carroll said. "As he ran into that checkpoint, members of law enforcement from the United States Secret Service intercepted that individual."

The Secret Service said today that a "coward attempted to create a national tragedy," after gunfire at the White House Correspondents' dinner. "He underestimated the protective capabilities of the U.S. Secret Service, and was stopped at first contact," Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn wrote in a statement posted on X.

Suspect Identified as California Engineer

The suspect has been identified as Cole Thomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, a federal official familiar with the case told NBC News. According to his LinkedIn profile, Allen graduated from the California Institute of Technology, a prestigious private research university in Pasadena, California, in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. A LinkedIn profile linked to the suspect lists a bachelor's in mechanical engineering and a master's in computer science. It identifies him as a self-employed video game developer who also works part-time as a teacher for a company that specializes in tutoring and college test preparation.

Cole Allen, the suspect in the shooting outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner, told law enforcement following his arrest that he wanted to shoot Trump administration officials, two sources told CBS News. The suspect didn't specifically say he was targeting President Trump, just "administration officials," a law enforcement source said. Officials have said the shooting suspect has no criminal record and was not on the radar of law enforcement in Washington, D.C.

Secret Service Agent Wounded But Protected

A Secret Service agent struck in his bulletproof vest was released from the hospital earlier today, a source said. Trump said earlier tonight that the officer was "in very great shape" following the shooting because his ballistic vest likely protected him. At a news conference at the White House, Trump described the gunman as a "lone wolf" and said he was "taken down by some very brave members of Secret Service." One officer was shot but was protected by a vest, Trump said. "The vest did the job," he added.

The suspect was not shot but taken to a local hospital, police said. Though the man was not shot, he was taken to a local hospital, Carroll said. The suspected shooter was not hit by gunfire and was taken to the hospital for evaluation, Carroll said.

Global Leaders Condemn Violence

World leaders have condemned last night's shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner while expressing support for Trump and other guests. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier that he was "relieved" that Trump, along with first lady Melania Trump and others in attendance, were safe. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "shocked" by the scenes at the dinner.

French President Emmanuel Macron called the incident "unacceptable," writing on X that "violence has no place in a democracy" and offering his "full support to Donald Trump." The incident marks a sobering reminder of the security challenges facing high-profile political events, even as the journalism community gathered to celebrate press freedom and the First Amendment.

She said the president would be holding a press briefing at the White House soon and that he insisted the dinner be rescheduled within the next 30 days. Jiang also said the president had wanted to continue with the event but had to follow security protocols. The disruption of this traditional celebration of journalism underscores the increasingly tense political climate and the ongoing security concerns surrounding public officials and democratic institutions.