An alleged shooter is in custody, and President Donald Trump was evacuated, after shots were fired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night. A Secret Service agent was reportedly shot, but wasn’t seriously hurt because of a vest, according to Fox News. There are no reported injuries beyond the agent.
The president said that law enforcement believes he was a “lone wolf,” and the suspect is Cole Allen, 30, from Torrance, California, according to CBS News.
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Jeffrey Carroll said at a press conference that the suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives, and United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro that the suspect will be arraigned on Monday for charges of “using a firearm during a crime of violence” and “assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.”
Carroll confirmed that the suspect was “charging” in the direction of the ballroom. Police said he was a guest at the hotel, The Washington Hilton.
“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job,” Trump posted to Truth Social. Trump also posted an image of the downed suspect, along with video of the suspect being taken down.
“Everyone owes a debt of gratitude to the courage of law enforcement,” Trump said at a press conference in the White House Briefing Room shortly after 10:35 p.m. EST.
“We have to resolve our differences […] there was a tremendous amount of love and coming together,” he added, later saying it was a “rather traumatic experience” for first lady Melania Trump.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said at the briefing that charges will be filed soon and added that the investigation is “ongoing and just started.”
“I promise you, justice will be served,” Blanche added.
The dinner was canceled, but White House Correspondent’s Association President Weijia Jiang said the event could be rescheduled within 30 days.
“They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we ‘LET THE SHOW GO ON’ but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again,” Trump posted shortly after the shooting.
Andrew Harnik/Gettyimages
“The president and the first lady are safe along all protectees. One individual is in custody. The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation,” Anthony Guglielmi, Secret Service Chief of Communications, stated.
The first lady and many officials were rushed out quickly by law enforcement. The Daily Wire can confirm that high-profile individuals, including cabinet officials, were also evacuated out of the event, but television cameras still showed people remaining inside the ballroom for awhile after the incident. Jiang originally told the audience that the dinner was expected to go on.
Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images
Shots fired at the White House Correspondence Dinner. pic.twitter.com/DlVSc8IAZ4
— Gianno Caldwell (@GiannoCaldwell) April 26, 2026
Video of the incident indicates popping noises, as well as people shouting to “stay down.”
Trump rushed off stage during White House Correspondents Dinner! pic.twitter.com/L5yCFk4bNj
— MSJ (@M_S_J) April 26, 2026
Trump was sitting at the table onstage, along with the first lady and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, among others, when popping sounds were heard, according to NewsNation. They were cleared extremely quickly from the table, as some people sitting at the dinner ducked under their chairs.
Nathan Howard/Getty Images
Many details are still unknown. The Washington Hilton is where President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.
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