President Donald Trump was uninjured after a shooting incident outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner held at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night. Secret Service and law enforcement officials quickly evacuated the venue amid an unspecified threat, with hundreds of guests taking cover under tables as shots were fired.
The shooter has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California, according to two law enforcement officials. Authorities confirmed that a suspect opened fire, though further details remain limited at this time.
The Secret Service, National Guard, and other law enforcement agencies responded rapidly to secure the banquet hall and evacuate attendees. Among those evacuated were Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. One officer was shot while wearing a bullet-resistant vest but is expected to recover fully.
Witnesses reported hearing between five and eight shots before the room was cleared. President Trump initially thought the noise was caused by a dropped tray, but the First Lady immediately recognized the sound as gunfire. Trump assured that the event would be rescheduled and promised enhanced safety measures for the future.
White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang confirmed that everyone is safe and that the dinner will be held again. The president stated, “It was a little different evening than we thought. But we’re going to do it again,” emphasizing that the upcoming event will be “better” and “safer.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
