Shooting Disrupts White House Correspondents' Dinner; One Secret Service Agent Injured, Suspect in Custody
Gunfire disrupted the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton, leading to the evacuation of President Trump and others. The suspect, 31-year-old Cole Allen from California, faces federal charges. The event was canceled, with Trump vowing to reschedule.
Yahoo Inc / Wikimedia (CC BY 2.0)Shots rang out at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in the ballroom of the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026. The booming sounds came from the direction of the main entrance to the ballroom. The sounds were identified as the low thudding sound of semi-automatic weapons.
Post by @BNONews on X
Shattering of glass was heard during the incident. Approximately 2,500 people were in attendance at the dinner. People screamed and ran after the shots. Attendees stayed under tables for five to ten minutes after the shots.
Secret Service agents rushed President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice-President JD Vance away from the stage. Secret Service agents stood in helmets and bulletproof vests with guns trained on the crowd. Video shows President Trump taking cover after the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
Health Secretary RFK Jr. was seen in a small room by the ballroom just before the dinner. Health Secretary RFK Jr. stated he was hungry and wanted to get on with the event. Health Secretary RFK Jr. was seated at a table not far behind the narrator.
FBI Director Kash Patel was on the floor shielding his girlfriend during the incident. A Secret Service agent ran across the ballroom to aid FBI Director Kash Patel. Roads around the Washington Hilton were closed for hours by law enforcement before the event.
Security at the venue involved a cursory ticket check from six feet away at the door. An agent wanded the narrator but did not investigate bleeps from jacket pocket contents or ask to empty belongings. S.
Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that shooter Cole Allen is being charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. Cole Allen is a 31-year-old California teacher, according to @disclosetv. Cole Allen is 31 years old.
The 31-year-old engineer and self-described indie game developer is suspected of firing shots at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, according to Wired. The event was attended by President Donald Trump, high-profile media figures, and US government officials.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated he is relieved that President Trump, the First Lady, and Vice President are safe and unharmed following the security incident.
Police, media, and neighbors gathered outside a home in Torrance, California, after Cole Allen was named as the suspect. President Trump was rushed off the stage during the White House Correspondents' Dinner due to a shooting. The suspect was shot dead, according to @spectatorindex.
President Donald Trump stated that a suspect who disrupted the White House press dinner was carrying multiple weapons but was subdued and in custody. President Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after loud sounds were heard in the hotel’s ballroom. The remainder of the White House Correspondents Dinner was canceled.
Plans exist for a Trump press conference at the White House. President Trump stated: “We’re not going to let anybody take over our society.
A suspect was identified in the shooting incident outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night.
The Republican president did not attend during his first term or the first year of his second term. President Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents' dinner following an apparent security incident. The shooting suspect is a 31-year-old man from California.
One USSS agent was shot but is expected to be okay. President Trump stated the shooting suspect was a 'would-be assassin' at a news briefing.
Security forces responded to the shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner. Suspected gunshots disrupted the White House Correspondents' Dinner as President Trump was rushed out.
One suspect is in custody after shots were fired outside the ballroom of the White House Correspondents Dinner. Gunshots were heard at the White House correspondents' dinner attended by Donald Trump.
Security footage shows the suspect charging security at the WHCD. The shooter at the WHCD dinner was not struck by gunfire or injured, according to DC Chief of Police Carroll O. One Secret Service officer was hit in the vest and is okay.
Attendees were under the table during a military band parading out of the Washington Hilton’s ballroom. Hundreds of journalists and government officials, including two dozen Atlantic colleagues, were present dressed in black tie. Armed agents pushed their way through after the incident.
M. ET on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
6 events- 2026-04-25 22:56 ET
The Atlantic article updated with details of the shooting incident.
1 sourceThe Atlantic - 2026-04-25 evening
President Trump vows to reschedule the dinner and speaks from the White House.
1 source@Variety - 2026-04-25 evening
Remainder of the White House Correspondents' Dinner canceled.
1 source@axios - 2026-04-25 evening
President Trump evacuated after shots fired at the dinner.
20 sources@BNONews · @spectatorindex · @WSJ · @Variety - 2026-04-25 pre-event
Roads around Washington Hilton closed by law enforcement.
1 sourceThe BBC - 2026-04-25 pre-dinner
Health Secretary RFK Jr. seen in a small room by the ballroom.
1 sourceThe BBC
Potential Impact
- 01
Heightened security protocols at future high-profile events in Washington, D.C.
- 02
Increased scrutiny on Secret Service procedures following the incident.
- 03
Potential delays in rescheduling the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
- 04
Broader discussions on gun control and presidential security in U.S. media.
- 05
Local disruptions in Torrance, California, due to police and media presence at suspect's home.
Transparency Panel
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