"Shotgun-Wielding Attacker Attempts Security Breach, Fires at Secret Service Agents... Trump Safe (Comprehensive 2nd Report)"
by Lee Myeonghwan
Published 26 Apr.2026 12:02(KST)
Updated 26 Apr.2026 14:00(KST)
Armed Assailant with Shotgun Opens Fire at White House Correspondents' Dinner
Shooting Occurs Outside Banquet Hall; Suspect in His 30s Apprehended
No Injuries Reported for President Trump, First Lady, or Vice President Vance
Gunshots rang out at the venue of the White House Correspondents' Dinner attended by U.S. President Donald Trump, prompting President Trump to evacuate in haste. All major attendees, including President Trump and the First Lady, were unharmed, and the shooter was apprehended at the scene.
On the evening of the 25th (local time), President Trump attended the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner held at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m., after President Trump had entered and the national anthem ceremony had concluded, while attendees were dining. Several sounds suspected to be gunshots were heard during the event, and Secret Service agents immediately rushed onto the stage. According to the White House press pool, Secret Service agents shouted, "Shots fired."
President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other key figures who were dining at the head table on stage, took cover under the table and then evacuated to the rear of the venue. President Trump announced that he, the First Lady, Vice President Vance, and other major attendees were all safe and unharmed.
The shooting was confirmed to have occurred at a security checkpoint located outside the banquet hall. An official from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) explained that an armed assailant with a shotgun attempted to breach security at the White House dinner venue and fired at Secret Service agents during the attempt. The agent, who was wearing protective gear, was reportedly not seriously injured.
The Secret Service immediately apprehended the shooting suspect, who is currently in custody. TASS, citing a New York Post reporter's social media post, reported that the suspect was a 31-year-old man named Cole Thomas Allen, but no official announcement has been made. CNN reported that the suspect is a man in his 30s from California.
After safely evacuating, President Trump posted on his social networking service (SNS) Truth Social at around 9:20 p.m., stating, "The Secret Service and law enforcement agencies performed their duties excellently. They responded quickly and bravely," and added, "The shooter has been apprehended." He continued, "It has been a tumultuous night in D.C.," and said, "I suggested we continue the event, but I will follow the decision of law enforcement agencies."
Later, through a separate post, President Trump announced, "The First Lady, the Vice President, and all Cabinet members are safe," and explained that law enforcement decided everyone should leave the venue and that the White House Correspondents' Dinner is expected to be rescheduled and held within 30 days.
The White House Correspondents' Dinner is a historic event that has served as a channel of communication between the president and the media for over 100 years. This was President Trump's first time attending the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in his capacity as president. Given President Trump's contentious relationship with the U.S. media, the fact that he attended the dinner with the press corps for the first time during both his first and second terms drew significant attention.
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