Authorities Say Trump Likely Target in Dinner Shooting

US authorities believe a suspected gunman who opened fire near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington was likely aiming at President Donald Trump and senior members of his administration, according to Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche. The suspect, identified by US media as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, was arrested after shots were fired near a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton hotel on Saturday evening. The annual event was being held in a ballroom inside the hotel at the time.

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Blanche said investigators are still examining the suspect’s motive but early findings suggest the attacker intended to target government officials attending the gathering.

The FBI’s criminal division and a terrorism task force are leading the investigation.

Security rushes president to safety

Gunfire was reported at about 20:35 local time (00:35 GMT) in the hotel’s foyer, several floors above where the dinner was taking place.

Secret Service agents quickly escorted President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice-President JD Vance out of the ballroom. The president had been speaking at the event when the disturbance occurred.

Law enforcement officers exchanged fire with the suspect and subdued him. Officials said they believe the man discharged his weapon during the confrontation. He was not shot but was taken to hospital for evaluation.

Police said the suspect was carrying two firearms as well as knives.

One officer was wounded during the incident but has since been released from hospital. Secret Service communications chief Anthony Guglielmi said the officer’s bullet-resistant vest helped prevent more serious injuries.

Investigators examine suspect writings

Authorities are reviewing documents believed to have been written by the suspect that indicate a desire to target members of the administration, according to a senior US official.

One of Allen’s relatives contacted police before the attack after receiving writings from him. Those documents reportedly did not mention the correspondents’ dinner specifically.

Officials also said investigators believe Allen travelled to Washington by train, first going from Los Angeles to Chicago before continuing to the US capital.

Allen describes himself on LinkedIn as a mechanical engineer, game developer and teacher. He is from Torrance, California, and police are searching a property believed to be linked to him there.

He is expected to appear in federal court on Monday, where he will face charges including assaulting a federal officer and using a firearm during a violent crime.

Event halted amid confusion

Journalists attending the dinner described confusion as the gunshots echoed through the hotel.

The room hosting the event was briefly placed under lockdown before organisers announced the dinner would be rescheduled and began escorting guests out.

Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, called the incident “harrowing” and thanked the Secret Service for protecting those present. She said the organisation’s board would meet to determine next steps.

Speaking later from the White House, Trump praised the security services, telling reporters those at the dinner owed them a “tremendous debt of gratitude”. He also thanked journalists for what he described as responsible reporting on the incident and urged people to “resolve our differences peacefully”.

Third known threat against Trump

The president described the suspect as someone who had “a lot of hatred in his heart for a while” and said the man’s family had been aware he was struggling. Trump also said the suspect had produced a manifesto.

The incident marks the third known assassination threat against Trump. In July 2024, a bullet grazed his ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Two months later, another suspected gunman was discovered hiding near Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

World leaders condemned the shooting attempt. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “shocked” and stressed that attacks on democratic institutions or press freedom must be strongly condemned.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also expressed relief that those attending the dinner were unharmed.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 27 April 2026