Shooting at Trump Dinner; He Says It Is Unrelated to Iran
WANA (Apr 26) – A shooting incident disrupted the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton after an armed individual attempted to pass through a security checkpoint and opened fire, prompting the immediate evacuation of Donald Trump and other senior officials.
The incident occurred around 9 p.m. local time in the hotel lobby, where several gunshots were heard while thousands of journalists, politicians, and public figures were gathered inside the main hall.
Security forces quickly escorted Trump, Melania Trump, and Vice President J. D. Vance out of the venue. Reports indicate that the attacker was stopped before reaching the main hall and was taken into custody. No injuries to officials have been reported.
According to outlets such as CNN, guests were instructed to lie on the floor as armed response teams secured the area. Fox News reported that federal authorities and the Secret Service have launched an investigation into the suspect’s identity and motive.
Law enforcement sources said the gunman has confessed that his target in the armed attack at the White House Correspondents’ dinner venue was U.S. government officials.
According to CBS News, citing two sources, Cole Allen—the suspect in the shooting—told authorities after his arrest that he intended to open fire on officials in the Trump administration.
The report adds, citing another law enforcement source, that the suspect did not specifically name Trump as his target, but said he was aiming at “government officials.”
In his initial response, Trump praised security forces, saying they acted “quickly and bravely” and confirmed the attacker had been detained. He later stated: “The attacker acted alone and had no support,” adding, “I don’t think this has anything to do with Iran, but we will fully investigate.”
Trump also provided additional details, saying: “Secret Service agents quickly apprehended the gunman. One officer was injured but is now in good condition.” He described the response as “incredibly fast,” noting that the suspect was prevented from getting anywhere near him.
He criticized the venue’s security, saying: “The building did not have sufficient protection,” and reflected on the moment, adding: “I was monitoring the situation, but in hindsight, I should have taken a protective position sooner.”
Trump further confirmed that authorities are searching the suspect’s residence in California and said: “We are leading the investigation and examining the weapon and evidence recovered at the scene.”
Addressing the broader context, he called for unity, stating: “This moment should be a call for national unity, not division,” and urged Americans to resolve political differences peacefully. He also noted that such incidents are not unprecedented, saying attempts like this “have happened before.”
The event was ultimately postponed, and security presence around the hotel was significantly increased following the incident.
