Trump evacuated after gunshots fired at White House Correspondents Dinner
Donald Trump and other top US leaders were evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner after gunshots were fired at the event. Secret Service agents rushed in as guests ducked under tables.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday night after loud bangs triggered panic and a massive security response.
According to officials, a man armed with a shotgun attempted to breach security near the event’s main screening area. An FBI official said the suspect fired at a Secret Service agent, but the bullet struck protective gear and the agent was not harmed.
As shots rang out, dinner attendees immediately froze before screams of “Get down, get down!” echoed through the hall. Hundreds of guests dived under tables while heavily armed Secret Service officers stormed the dining room. Trump and Melania were seen ducking behind the dais moments before agents swiftly escorted them out.
Roughly 2,600 attendees were present at the venue, with many taking cover as chaos unfolded. Witnesses said waitstaff fled toward the front of the hall, while security personnel pushed several senior officials, including Robert F Kennedy Jr, Doug Burgum, and Marco Rubio, to the floor as a precaution. Top Cabinet members were later evacuated one by one as security teams swept the premises.
The US Secret Service confirmed that Trump, the First Lady, Vice President, and all Cabinet members were safe. Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the agency is investigating a shooting near the event’s entrance.
About an hour after the incident, Trump posted on Truth Social that the “shooter had been caught,” praising security forces. “Quite an evening in DC Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job,” he wrote, later adding that everyone was “in perfect condition.”
Trump also said he had initially suggested continuing the dinner—“LET THE SHOW GO ON”—but deferred to law enforcement. He confirmed the event would be rescheduled within 30 days and announced he would hold a press conference shortly from the White House Press Briefing Room.
Fox News and New York Post columnist, Karol Markowicz said the suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California. “The attempted shooter at the White House Correspondent's Dinner is 31-year old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California and he is in custody,” she wrote on social media. Authorities, however, have not officially confirmed the identity of the suspect.