U.S. President Donald Trump was evacuated unharmed on Saturday night, April 25, 2026, after a gunman opened fire near the main security screening area of the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The incident occurred at the Washington Hilton around 8:34 p.m. EDT, just as guests were being served. Secret Service agents quickly swarmed the President and First Lady Melania Trump, ushering them off the stage as hundreds of attendees, including Vice President J.D. Vance and high-profile journalists, took cover under their tables.
The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California, was apprehended by law enforcement after a brief chase near the hotel lobby. Police recovered a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives from the scene. While the President was uninjured, one Secret Service agent was shot in his bullet-resistant vest; he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to recover. President Trump later addressed the nation from the White House, praising the “brave” actions of the Secret Service and describing the suspect as a “lone wolf.”
Federal authorities have since revealed that the suspect had allegedly written a manifesto calling for the targeting of administration officials. Following the security breach, the remainder of the gala was scrapped, though the President indicated he plans to reschedule the event. Global leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have expressed their relief at the President’s safety while condemning the act of political violence.
