President Donald Trump’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner was cancelled after shots were fired.
Donald Trump’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner was cancelled
The US leader, his wife Melania, and Vice President JD Vance were rushed from the ballroom at the Washington Hilton on Saturday (25.04.26) night just minutes after the event began after a suspect “armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives” charged past a security checkpoint.
At a subsequent press conference, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and law enforcement officials said they believed the man – who has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen, a teacher from California – acted alone.
Interim Washington, D.C., police chief Jeffery 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 man, who was staying at the hotel, will likely face two charges, using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
Shortly after the incident, Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that “the shooter has been apprehended.”
He wrote: “Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job.
“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. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
But in a follow-up up post, the US leader confirmed the dinner would be cancelled after police asked him to leave the building.
He wrote: “Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do, immediately. I will be giving a press conference in 30 minutes from the White House Press Briefing Room.
“The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition. We will be speaking to you in a half an hour. I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days.”
White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang had initially taken to the stage at the dinner to inform attendees – who hid under tables when the shots rang out – that the event would resume, before it was later announced the event had been cancelled entirely.
