Trump White House highlights: 'Stopped cold, never came close to entering ballroom': Trump on White House shooter

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was “hijacked” by an armed attacker who sought to assassinate President Donald Trump and target senior administration officials.

In a post on X, she said, "What was supposed to be a fun night at the @WHCA dinner with President Trump delivering jokes and celebrating free speech was hijacked by a depraved crazy person who sought to assassinate the President and kill as many top Trump administration officials as possible.

I was with President Trump and the First Lady back stage after we were quickly ushered to safety by Secret Service. President Trump was truly fearless, but as he said last night, this political violence needs to end.

Thank you to law enforcement for keeping all of us safe, including the brave agent who took a bullet to the chest and immediately moved to neutralize the shooter.

Pray for our country."

The suspected gunman in the incident linked to last night’s White House Correspondents Dinner described himself as “The Friendly Federal Assassin” in a manifesto he sent to family members minutes before the attack, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.

According to the source, the manifesto indicated that the suspect intended to target administration officials. It also stated that he was not aiming at law enforcement.

However, a DC police official said on Saturday night that the suspect and law enforcement officers “exchanged gunfire.”

The New York Post was the first to report on the manifesto, including the suspect referring to himself as “The Friendly Federal Assassin.”

President Donald Trump on Sunday said the suspected gunman who tried to storm a gala dinner he attended had written an anti-Christian manifesto.

"The guy is a sick guy," he told Fox News. "When you read his manifesto, he hates Christians."

"His sister or his brother actually was complaining about it. You know, they were even complaining to law enforcement. He was a very troubled guy."

President Donald Trump said the alleged gunman at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was “stopped cold” and “never came close to entering” the ballroom, according to Fox News.

Trump also said it is “tough to secure” the site where the annual dinner is held.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner should serve as a “wake-up call” for Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

Blanche, speaking on multiple networks Sunday, told Fox News Sunday that lawmakers should work “to get a deal done” to fund DHS, which has been shut down since mid-February, adding that officers should not be used as “pawns.”

According to prior reporting, DHS has used funds from a major spending bill to pay immigration agents, as well as Secret Service and some Coast Guard personnel during the partial shutdown.

Funding disagreements remain in Congress. Democrats have opposed passing funding without major changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which falls under DHS, following multiple fatal shootings by federal officers. Republicans, meanwhile, are pushing to pass immigration funding separately before taking up a broader Senate-approved bill to fund the rest of the department.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told Fox News Sunday he did not understand why the Senate-passed bill had not yet been considered in the House and said it should be taken up.

“We have to make sure that every single Secret Service agent continues to get paid, every single TSA agent, the Coast Guard, and FEMA, as well as the hardworking men and women of the Department of Homeland Security,” Jeffries said.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the suspected gunman at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner “got off a couple shots” but was “immediately subdued.”

“From what we know from video surveillance and from witnesses who were there, (he) barely got past the perimeter,” Blanche told State of the Union.

“He was immediately subdued, and, yes, he got off a couple shots,” Blanche said, adding the president spoke with the Secret Service agent who was hit in the chest while wearing a bulletproof vest.

Authorities have confirmed that the suspect’s weapons were legally purchased, according to a senior law enforcement official and documents reviewed by NBC News. The suspect was found carrying a rifle and a handgun at the time of his arrest, along with multiple knives.

Records show he purchased a Maverick 12-gauge shotgun in August 2025 and an Armscor Precision .38 semi-automatic pistol in October 2023. A senior law enforcement official confirmed these were the two firearms recovered from him.

Officials also reiterated that the suspect was armed with multiple knives when taken into custody.

The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the shooting which targeted US President Donald Trump and strongly denounced this deplorable crime.

In a statement, foreign affairs ministry affirmed the UAE's solidarity with US President Donald Trump and his family, as well as with the government and the people of the United States.

The ministry reiterated the UAE's strong condemnation of such criminal acts and its unwavering rejection of all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability.

President Donald Trump renewed his call for a secure ballroom to be built on the grounds of the White House following the shooting scare at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

“What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE. This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House. It cannot be built fast enough! While beautiful, it has every highest level security feature there is plus, there are no rooms sitting on top for unsecured people to pour in, and is inside the gates of the most secure building in the World, The White House. The ridiculous Ballroom lawsuit, brought by a woman walking her dog, who has absolutely No Standing to bring such a suit, must be dropped, immediately. Nothing should be allowed to interfere with with its construction, which is on budget and substantially ahead of schedule!!!

Acting US Attorney General Blanche said authorities have executed search warrants in connection with the alleged White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter, in an interview with NBC News.

Blanche said investigators believe the suspect traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington, D.C.

He added that authorities believe the suspect was targeting administration officials.

King Charles III was “greatly relieved” that US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and other guests were “unharmed” following the shooting at a Washington media gala, Buckingham Palace said on Sunday.

The incident occurred late Saturday, less than 48 hours before Charles and Queen Camilla are set to begin a four-day state visit to the United States, including a state dinner scheduled for Tuesday.

The palace said the British monarch was being “kept fully informed of developments” and added that discussions with US counterparts would take place on Sunday “to discuss to what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the visit”.

8:45 PM ET: CNN reports that President Trump was escorted off the stage by Secret Service, as Vice President JD Vance and some members of Trump’s Cabinet are also rushed out.

8:52 PM ET: Trump is confirmed safe, according to a source familiar with the situation.

9:00 PM ET: Several US Secret Service agents are heard yelling “shots fired” at the dinner, according to pool reports. One agent announces over radio that a shooter is in custody.

9:10 PM ET: A suspected gunman is identified as the cause of the cabinet evacuation and the lockdown of the scene.

9:11 PM ET: An administration official says all cabinet members who were attending the dinner are safe.

9:15 PM ET: CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, who was attending the dinner, describes “hearing gunshots in the hall right near me” and seeing “a guy with a weapon” as police officers escort him to safety.

9:17 PM ET: Trump posts on Truth Social that a “shooter” has been apprehended. He also indicates a desire to return to the venue, but Secret Service advises against it, according to an administration official.

9:36 PM ET: Trump says law enforcement has asked him to leave the premises and that he is returning to the White House. He adds that the White House Correspondents’ Dinner will be rescheduled.

9:39 PM ET: The US Secret Service confirms that one person is in custody after the shooting.

10:04 PM ET: A US Secret Service officer is confirmed shot at the dinner, according to three people familiar with the matter.

10:33 PM ET: Trump speaks at a news conference from the White House, saying “a man charged a security checkpoint, armed with multiple weapons” at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

11:16 PM ET: The suspect is identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from California, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

3:51 AM ET: The Secret Service officer who was shot is released from hospital, according to USSS Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi.

Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayor, condemned political violence following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

“Political violence is absolutely unacceptable,” he wrote on X. He also said he was relieved that the president and guests at the event were safe after the incident.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday he was "shocked" by a shooting at a Washington media gala, adding it was "a huge relief" that President Donald Trump and others were unharmed.

"Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms," Starmer said on X.

Starmer sent a message Sunday to Trump "in solidarity for the events that took place", senior minister Darren Jones told UK broadcasters during a round of interviews.

The shooting late Saturday at the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents' Association came less than 48 hours before King Charles III arrives in the US for a state visit.

He will visit Washington and New York during the four-day trip alongside Queen Camilla, which will see the royals have tea with Trump and first lady Melania and attend a state dinner.

Jones said security teams in Britain and the US were "working closely to ensure the security arrangements are put appropriately in place".

"As you would imagine, the government and the palace take the security of His Majesty very seriously, and there were already extensive discussions taking place, which will continue over the coming days," he told Sky News.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X that he and his wife were “shocked by the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump last night in Washington, DC.”

He added that they were relieved the president and first lady were safe and in good condition, and extended wishes for a quick recovery to the injured police officer. Netanyahu also praised the US Secret Service for its “swift and decisive action.”

US President Donald Trump and other attendees at a glitzy media gala in Washington made a hasty exit Saturday night after gunshots were fired.

As details continue to emerge and investigations are underway, here is what we know about the shooting:

What happened in the ballroom?

Shots were heard after the welcoming speech at the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents' Association being held at the Washington Hilton Hotel, according to AFP reporters and other witnesses.

Tactical security teams with guns drawn took position on the stage where Trump was seated alongside his wife Melania, Vice President JD Vance and other cabinet members, who were swiftly evacuated.

Hundreds of guests in black tie in the ballroom took cover under tables and later made their way into the hotel lobby and then outdoors as the event was postponed.

Authorities said no dignitaries or gala guests were hurt.

How did the shooting unfold?

A "sole gunman" rushed through a security checkpoint in the hotel lobby just outside the ballroom where the dinner was taking place around 8:36 pm (0036 GMT), according to authorities.

Trump shared footage on his Truth Social platform which appeared to show the suspect charging at the checkpoint before being swarmed by officers.

"He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives," Metropolitan Police Department interim chief Jeffery Carroll told reporters.

Law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the suspect and "intercepted that individual."

A uniformed Secret Service officer was "struck in his vest" and taken to hospital, but was doing well, Carroll said.

The suspect was not hit by gunfire, but was taken to a hospital to be evaluated.

He was in custody and due to be arraigned on Monday in a federal court.

The detained man, who officials believed was staying as a guest at the hotel, is thought to be the only suspect in the case.

He is facing charges on two counts: using a firearm during a crime of violence, and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said.

Who is the suspect?

Trump shared photos of the suspected shooter, shirtless and in handcuffs facedown on a carpeted floor, in what appears to be the Hilton lobby.

Authorities are yet to publicly confirm his identity, but multiple US news outlets reported that the suspect was a 31-year-old named Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California.

FBI agents were seen outside a two-story residence in Torrance late Saturday, according to an AFP photographer.

"My impression is he was a lone wolf," Trump said, adding that the suspect's motivation was not yet clear but he believed the gunman was "sick."

A LinkedIn profile with the name "Cole Allen" showed a picture of a man which appeared to match a photo of the suspect shared by Trump.

The social media profile said Allen was a mechanical engineer, computer scientist, game developer and teacher.

A person named Cole Allen graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with an undergraduate degree, the university told the New York Times.

C2 Education, a test-prep company, named Allen as "teacher of the month" in an Instagram post dated December 2024.

Were there security failures?

Questions swirled regarding the security at the reception and how a gun was brought into the hotel.

Attendees pointed out that there was a magnetometer placed outside the ballroom, but there was no such screening before that or at the entrance to the hotel itself.

Trump initially said it was "not a particularly secure building," but later said the ballroom where the event was being held was not breached by the gunman and was "very, very secure."

The checkpoint that the suspect tried to charge past was "right outside the ballroom," authorities said.

"Because that checkpoint worked, there was no one who was injured," Pirro said.

"We'll go through video across the hotel to figure out how the gun got in, how it got down here," Carroll added.

According to Trump, the security services did a "much better job than Butler," where he was the target of an assassination attempt in 2024 during a campaign rally in the state of Pennsylvania.

Authorities have identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, a California native, reported CNN, citing sources familiar with the case. Interim Washington, DC Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said the suspect was carrying a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives, and exchanged gunfire with law enforcement officers before being taken into custody.

Officials said a motive has not yet been determined. The suspect is scheduled to appear in court on Monday and faces two charges, including using a firearm during a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, according to US Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

Authorities added that Allen was not hit by gunfire but was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Public records show he previously worked as a teacher and video game developer in Southern California. He studied engineering and graduated from the California Institute of Technology, according to materials provided to CNN.

US President Donald Trump narrowly escaped harm after a shooting scare disrupted the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, turning one of the capital’s most prominent social and political gatherings into a scene of panic, lockdown and intense security action. Gunfire erupted near a screening checkpoint outside the Washington Hilton shortly before Trump was scheduled to address the ballroom, forcing Secret Service agents to shield and evacuate the president, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and senior members of the administration.

The suspect was quickly subdued and taken into custody, but the shockwaves of the incident continued through the day as investigators pieced together the motive, Trump addressed the nation, and new details emerged about the accused attacker. The incident has also renewed scrutiny of security arrangements around major political events and added to the long list of threats and assassination attempts involving Trump in recent years.

Erika Kirk was seen being escorted from the White House Correspondents' Dinner in tears after gunfire caused panic and evacuation. The incident evoked sympathy due to her husband Charlie Kirk's death last year. The dinner was disrupted by a shooting near the security screening area, leading to a lockdown and the arrest of a suspect.

Social media posts that appear to match the California man arrested Saturday in the shooting at the White House correspondents' dinner show he is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer.

A May 2025 profile photo of Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, appears to match the appearance of the man in a photo of the alleged attacker being taken into custody that was posted Saturday night by President Donald Trump. The photo, posted to the social networking site LinkedIn, shows him in a cap and gown after graduating with a master's degree in computer science from California State University-Dominguez Hills.

Allen, 31, earned a bachelor's degree in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. He listed his involvement there in a Christian student fellowship and a campus group that battled with Nerf guns.

A local ABC station in Los Angeles included an interview with Allen during his senior year of college as part of a story about new technologies to help people as they age. He had developed a prototype for a new type of emergency brake for wheelchairs.

Allen contributed USD 25 to a Democratic Party political action committee in support of Kamala Harris for president in 2024, according to federal campaign finance records.

Allen's online resume says he worked for the last six years at C2 Education, a company that offers admissions counselling and test preparation services to aspiring college students. A 2024 post on the company's Facebook page listed Allen as the company's teacher of the month. The company did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday night.

Allen also posted that he had developed a video game for the Steam platform based on molecular chemistry. A post under Allen's name said he was working to develop a new “top-down shooter” combat game set in outer space.

The man accused of carrying out the shooting outside the White House Correspondents' Association dinner attended by President Donald Trump told law enforcement after his arrest that he wanted to shoot Trump administration officials, CBS News reported. Authorities continue investigating the motive and circumstances surrounding the incident.

US President Donald Trump said Saturday a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner would not deter him from the Iran war, although he believed the incident was unlikely linked to the conflict.

"It's not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran. I don't know if that had anything to do with it, I really don't think so, based on what we know," Trump told reporters in a briefing at the White House after the shocking security incident.

Trump had earlier said, however, that "you never know" if it could be linked to the Iran war, and said investigators were working on the motive of the shooter whom he described as a "lone wolf."

The US leader earlier Saturday canceled his envoys' trip to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran, after being unimpressed with Tehran's negotiating position following nearly two months of war.

Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance in Southern California, has been identified by law enforcement as the man suspected of opening fire near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner where Donald Trump and other officials were present, CNN reported citing sources.

Allen worked as a part-time teacher at C2 Education, a test prep and tutoring company, and has also been described as a video game developer. He was named the company’s “teacher of the month” in December 2024, according to its social media posts.

According to a LinkedIn account matching the alleged suspect's profile, Allen graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and received a master’s degree in computer science from California State University-Dominguez Hills last year. He also donated $25 to Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign in October 2024, according to Federal Election Commission records.

US President Donald Trump said Saturday a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner would not deter him from the Iran war, although he believed the incident was unlikely linked to the conflict.

"It's not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran. I don't know if that had anything to do with it, I really don't think so, based on what we know," Trump told reporters in a briefing at the White House after the shocking security incident.

Trump had earlier said, however, that "you never know" if it could be linked to the Iran war, and said investigators were working on the motive of the shooter whom he described as a "lone wolf."

The US leader earlier Saturday canceled his envoys' trip to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran, after being unimpressed with Tehran's negotiating position following nearly two months of war.

Investigators have identified the suspect in the shooting near the White House Correspondents' Association dinner as a 31-year-old man from California, believed to have acted alone and now facing multiple federal charges linked to firearms and the attack.

Law enforcement officials cited in The New York Times identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, who was taken into custody after attempting to breach a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton.

According to reporting by the newspaper, the suspect was stopped near the screening area and "did not make it inside the large hotel ballroom" where President Donald Trump and hundreds of guests were gathered.

Authorities said the attacker was armed with multiple weapons and attempted to push past security before being tackled by law enforcement. The suspect fired several rounds before being subdued inside the hotel complex just meters away from the ballroom.

President Trump, speaking at a press conference, described the attacker as "a sick person" and said early indications suggested a lone actor. He added that investigators were already searching the suspect's residence in California and reviewing his background.

Federal officials have not yet publicly detailed a motive. Trump said, "They seemed to think he's a lone wolf, and I feel that too," while cautioning that more information would emerge as the investigation progresses.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said prosecutors were preparing a range of charges tied to the shooting. "There will be multiple charges surrounding the shooting, around the possession of firearms and anything else that we can get on this guy," he said, adding that the investigation had "just started."

Charges are expected to include offences related to the act of shooting and illegal possession of firearms, with officials signalling that the case could expand as more evidence is gathered.

Blanche emphasised that federal agencies were already executing search warrants and analysing evidence, including weapons and ballistic material recovered at the scene. He said investigators were working closely with the FBI and local law enforcement.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that agents were examining "all the ballistics" and conducting witness interviews, urging the public to come forward with any information. "No piece of information is too small," he said.

According to multiple media reports, the suspect was apprehended quickly after the shooting began, with Secret Service agents and other officers responding within seconds.

The incident left one Secret Service officer injured after being struck in a bullet-resistant vest, though officials said he is expected to recover. No other injuries have been confirmed.

Federal investigating agencies are investigating how the suspect was able to approach the secured screening area with weapons. In a major lapse of security, the attack occurred near the magnetometer checkpoint, a few meters away from the ballroom.

Law enforcement officials have not ruled out additional charges as the investigation develops. These could include attempted murder, assault on a federal officer, and weapons-related offences, depending on the final assessment of evidence and intent.

Officials say they are examining the suspect's background, digital footprint and possible affiliations to determine whether he had any ideological, political or personal motivations.

The White House Correspondents' dinner, attended by senior political leaders, journalists and public figures, is considered one of the most tightly secured annual events in the US capital. The fact that the suspect was stopped before entering the ballroom is likely to be a central element in the government's case.

A lone gunman armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives charged a Secret Service checkpoint at the Washington Hilton before being tackled by law enforcement, officials said, revealing new details about the weapons and sequence of events in the shooting near the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

Washington’s interim Police Chief Jeff Carroll said the suspect was heavily armed when he attempted to breach security. “He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives as he ran through that checkpoint,” Carroll told reporters.

The incident occurred at about 8:36 p.m. in the hotel lobby, where multiple layers of security had been set up for the high-profile event attended by the president and senior officials.

Carroll said law enforcement personnel immediately engaged the suspect. “Members of the United States Secret Service intercepted that individual,” he said, adding that officers “exchanged gunfire with the individual.”

A Secret Service officer was struck during the exchange but survived after the bullet hit his protective vest. “He was transported to a local hospital for treatment… he seems to be in good spirits at this time,” Carroll said.

Officials said the suspect was subdued without being shot. “He was not struck by gunfire… however, he was transported to a local hospital to be evaluated,” Carroll said.

Authorities emphasised that the suspect never reached the ballroom where thousands of guests were gathered. “That checkpoint worked,” US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said, crediting the layered security system for preventing a potentially mass-casualty incident.

Pirro said the suspect’s actions indicated intent to cause significant harm. “It is clear… that this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could where thousands of people were situated,” she said.

She confirmed that the defendant is already facing federal charges. “The defendant is being charged with two counts… using a firearm during a crime of violence and… assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon,” Pirro said, adding that additional charges are expected as the investigation progresses.

Officials said the suspect was tackled and restrained by officers at the scene. “They actually… took him to the ground and handcuffed (him),” Carroll said, describing how the arrest unfolded.

Despite the scale of the incident, authorities said there is no ongoing threat to the public. “There does not appear to be any sort of danger to the public at this time,” Carroll said, noting that investigators believe the suspect acted alone.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said, “We have no reason to believe at this time that anyone else was involved,” confirming early assessments that the attacker was a lone gunman.

Officials are now working to determine how the suspect gained access to the hotel with multiple weapons. Carroll said investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and conducting searches. “We’ll go through video across the hotel to figure out how the gun got in, how it got down here,” he said.

He added that authorities have secured a room at the hotel believed to be linked to the suspect. “We do believe he was a guest here at the hotel… we have secured a room here,” Carroll said.

The FBI has deployed its Joint Terrorism Task Force and evidence response teams to assist in the investigation. Assistant Director Darren Cox said agents were pursuing all leads. “There will be no stone unturned during this investigation,” he said.

Cox also praised the rapid response by law enforcement. “The American public should be proud of the quick response and heroic actions from law enforcement officers tonight,” he said.

Secret Service Director Sean Kern said the incident demonstrated the effectiveness of layered security protocols. “It shows that our multi-layered protection works,” he said, noting that agents were able to stop the suspect before he could reach protected individuals.

Officials said the investigation remains in its early stages, with agencies continuing to analyse forensic evidence, interview witnesses and examine the suspect’s background.

They have not yet determined a motive or whether the president was specifically targeted, saying those questions remain under investigation.

Authorities indicated that further charges could be filed as more information emerges, with the suspect expected to be arraigned in federal court in the coming days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he was relieved to learn that US President Donald Trump, the First Lady and Vice President JD Vance were safe and unharmed following the recent security incident at a Washington DC hotel.

In a post on social media, PM Modi said, "Relieved to learn that President Trump, the First Lady and Vice President are safe and unharmed following the recent security incident at a Washington DC hotel. I extend my best wishes for their continued safety and well-being. Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned."

The Prime Minister’s remarks came after shots were reported near the White House Correspondents' Dinner venue in Washington, prompting a major security response.

US President Donald Trump said a gunman who “charged a security checkpoint, armed with multiple weapons” was quickly overpowered by Secret Service personnel after shots were fired near the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, describing the incident as “very unexpected” while praising law enforcement agencies.

Speaking at the White House after being evacuated from the Washington Hilton, Trump said he was initially confused by the sound that triggered the security response.

“I was totally shocked that something happened,” he said, adding, “The fact that the First Lady and I heard a noise, and I thought it was a tray going down, and it was a pretty loud noise and quite far away. He hadn’t breached the area at all.”

Trump said the suspect was “taken down by some very brave members of Secret Service” who “acted very quickly.” He added that one officer was shot during the confrontation but was protected by body armour.

According to Trump, the attacker “charged from 50 yards away” but was stopped before reaching the ballroom where the event was being held.

“The room was very, very secure,” he said, stressing that the suspect never entered the main hall where Trump, senior administration officials and hundreds of journalists had gathered.

The president confirmed that one Secret Service officer was injured but survived.

“One officer was shot, but saved by the fact that he was wearing a, obviously a very good bulletproof vest… The vest did the job,” Trump said, adding that the officer was “in great shape” and “in very high spirits.”

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said charges were expected soon.

“There will be multiple charges around the shooting, around the possession of firearms and anything else that we can get on this guy,” he said, while noting that “the investigation is obviously ongoing and just started.”

Blanche said federal agencies were already pursuing search warrants and gathering evidence linked to the suspect.

FBI Director Kash Patel said investigators were examining “all the ballistics that were found on scene to include the Long Gun and the shell casings,” while also conducting interviews.

“You saw the very best of America tonight. The very best unite us at a time of uncertainty,” Patel said, urging the public to assist investigators. “No piece of information is too small.”

Trump repeatedly praised the emergency response.

“They acted very quickly, I was very impressed with Secret Service. I’m the one who would complain,” he said.

Describing the moments after shots were heard, Trump said the situation developed rapidly.

“I was watching to see what was happening… probably should have gone down even faster,” he said, adding that the first lady reacted immediately and both were swiftly escorted out.

Trump said he wanted the event to continue despite the disruption.

“I fought like hell to stay,” he said, but acknowledged that security procedures required evacuation. He added that the dinner would be held again within 30 days.

Guests at the Washington Hilton reported hearing “five-six loud bangs” before diving under tables as Trump, the first lady and Cabinet members were removed from the venue.

The Secret Service said the suspect was detained near the screening area and confirmed that all protected individuals were safe.

Trump said authorities were investigating whether the attacker acted alone, describing him as “a sick person” and suggesting early indications pointed to a “lone wolf”.

Reflecting on the risks of public office, Trump said, “It’s a dangerous profession,” but indicated the incident would not change his approach.

He also called for national unity. “We need to resolve our differences, Republicans, Democrats and independents,” he said, adding that the gathering had briefly reflected a shared national moment despite the disruption.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday praised security officers for their swift response after the shooting scare at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, while recalling previous assassination attempts against him in Pennsylvania and Florida.

Speaking in the Press Briefing Room after the incident, Trump said the suspect was a resident of California and described him as "sick."

"The law enforcement and DC police just spoke with the mayor... You see the attacker in different positions, but you also see the attacker totally subdued and under control... This is not the first time in the past couple of years that our republic has been attacked by a would-be assassin who sought to kill in Butler, Pennsylvania, less than two years ago... and in Palm Beach, Florida, a few months after that, we came close. We really had, again, some great work done by law enforcement...," he said.

Trump also described the latest security breach as unexpected and said officers acted quickly to neutralise the threat.

"That was very unexpected, but incredibly acted upon by the Secret Service and law enforcement... A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service. They acted very quickly and have just released, for purposes of transparency and clarity, I've ordered it to be put out... a tape showing the violence of this thug who attacked our Constitution, and also showing how quickly the Secret Service and law enforcement acted on our country's behalf," he said.

Trump added that he had spoken with the officer injured during the confrontation.

"A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service... One officer was shot, but saved... the vest did the job. I just spoke to the officer, and he's doing great," he said.

The US President also used the incident to argue for stronger security infrastructure and promoted plans for a new ballroom at the White House, saying future events could be held in a safer venue.

"It's not a particularly secure building, and I didn't want to say this, but this is why we have to have all of the attributes of what we're planning at the White House," Trump said during his news conference. "It's actually a larger room, and it's much more secure. It's got drone-proof. It's bulletproof glass. We need the ballroom. That's why Secret Service, that's why the military is demanding it."

The White House Correspondents' Dinner was disrupted after an armed individual allegedly attempted to force entry into the venue before being subdued by security personnel. Authorities continue to investigate the incident.

The suspect accused of storming the Washington media gala attended by President Donald Trump will be arraigned in the US capital on Monday, federal prosecutors said. According to US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the suspect faces charges of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. Officials said the suspect exchanged gunfire with Secret Service agents but was not shot.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the White ​House Correspondents' Association dinner by Secret Service agents on ​Saturday night after a man opened fire with a shotgun on security personnel, officials said.

The armed man fired ​at a Secret Service agent, an FBI official told Reuters. About two hours after the incident, Trump told reporters at the White House that the officer was saved by his bulletproof vest and is in "good shape".

The suspect, whom Trump described as a "sick person," has been arrested.

All federal officials at the dinner, including Trump, were safe.

TRUMP SAYS SHOOTER 'LOOKED PRETTY ‌EVIL'

"A man charged a ⁠security checkpoint ⁠armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service," Trump said at a White House press conference after the incident.

Closed-circuit TV footage ​released by Trump on Truth Social showed someone running rapidly through a security checkpoint, momentarily catching security personnel off-guard before they quickly drew their weapons.

"You know, he ​charged from 50 yards away, so he was very far away from the room. He was moving. He was really moving," Trump said after the gala dinner was canceled.

Officials believe he is a "lone wolf" who acted alone, Trump said, adding, "He was a guy who looked pretty evil when he was down."

Trump ​said federal agents were raiding the California home of the suspected shooter.

Anthony Guglielmi, a Secret Service ⁠spokesman, said ‌the service was investigating a shooting near the main screening area at the entrance to the event.

After the sound ​of shots, dinner attendees immediately ​stopped talking and people started screaming “Get down, get down!" Many of the 2,600 attendees took cover while waiters ⁠fled to the front of the dining hall.

Security agents pushed cabinet officials to the ground, ​including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

Other ​security personnel in combat fatigues stormed the stage and evacuated Trump and his wife. Some security personnel took up position on the stage, pointing their rifles into the ballroom. Cabinet members were evacuated from the venue one by one.

The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, a marquee fixture of Washington’s social calendar each year, was also attended by many members of Trump’s cabinet and other senior administration officials. The event is held in the basement ballroom of the Hilton hotel.

SHOOTING FOLLOWS 2024 ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS

Trump and the first lady bent down behind the dais before being hustled out by Secret Service officers. Trump ‌stayed backstage about one hour, a source told Reuters. "We are staying," he was overheard saying, the source said.

Trump posted on social media that he hoped the dinner, the first he has attended as president, could be rescheduled in 30 days.

He ​was the subject of ​two assassination attempts in 2024 while he ⁠was campaigning for reelection after leaving the White House in 2021.

The most serious attempt occurred while Trump was campaigning at an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024. Trump was shot and wounded in his upper ear by a 20-year-old gunman. The gunman was shot dead by security ​personnel.

Just over two months after the Butler shooting, Secret Service agents spotted a man wielding a gun and hiding in bushes at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, while Trump was on the course. It was deemed an assassination attempt and the suspect was sentenced to life in prison in February.

The site of Saturday's dinner, the Washington Hilton, was the scene of an attempt on the life of President Ronald Reagan, who was shot and wounded by a would-be assassin outside the hotel in 1981.

Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser said authorities have “no reason to believe at this time that anyone else was involved” in the incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner tonight. “At this point, it does appear (the suspect) is a lone actor, a lone gunman,” added interim Washington, DC, police chief Jeffery Carroll.

Interim Washington, DC, police chief Jeffery Carroll told reporters the suspect in the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner had several weapons as he “charged” a Secret Service checkpoint.

“He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives,” Carroll said. “As he ran through that checkpoint, members of law enforcement from the United States Secret Service intercepted that individual. Carroll added that the suspect and law enforcement officers “exchanged gunfire.”

The suspected gunman in the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is believed to have been a guest at the Washington Hilton, where the event took place on Saturday night.

“Preliminary information. We do believe he was a guest here at the hotel,” Interim Chief at the Metropolitan Police Department Jeffery Carroll said at a news conference late Saturday.
“We have secured a room here in the hotel, and again, we’ll go through the appropriate procedures to determine what was inside there.”

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that the suspect behind a shooting incident at a media gala in Washington was a "would-be assassin," adding that the man was "armed with multiple weapons."

The man charged past a security checkpoint, Trump told a press briefing at the White House, adding: "One officer was shot but saved by the fact that he was wearing a, obviously, a very good bulletproof vest."

"We looked at all of the conditions that took place tonight, and I will say, you know, it's not a particularly secure building," the US leader added.

President Donald Trump said Saturday he believes the suspected shooter who stormed the White House correspondents' dinner was a "lone wolf."

"In my opinion, he was a lone wolf," Trump said, describing the man as a "whack job" and saying he felt there was no reason to believe the attack was connected to the war in Iran.

Members of the National Guard took up positions inside the Washington Hilton after the shooting scare, according to reports from the scene. Guests were gradually allowed to leave the building but were not permitted to re-enter. Security around entrances and nearby streets was significantly tightened. The visible deployment underscored concerns over a possible wider threat or the need to secure a high-profile site hosting top US officials. Officers continued checking parts of the property while emergency teams coordinated with federal and local authorities.

President Donald Trump said the presidency is “a dangerous profession” when asked about political violence concerns after shots were fired near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Trump joked that had he known the risks, “maybe I wouldn’t have run,” before adding, “Look, I’m here to do a job. It’s part of the job. It is a dangerous — it’s, I can’t imagine that there’s any profession that’s more dangerous. But I love the country, and I’m very proud. I’m very proud of the job we’ve done.”

The shooting suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. Authorities have not yet released further details about the suspect or possible motive.

US President Donald Trump said the Washington hotel hosting Saturday's White House correspondents' dinner -- where a would-be assassin exchanged gunfire with security agents -- was "not a particularly secure" facility.

"We looked at all of the conditions that took place tonight, and I will say, you know, it's not a particularly secure building," Trump said of the Washington Hilton hotel that has hosted major political events since it opened in 1965.