Trump Evacuated From White House Correspondents' Dinner After Shooting Incident

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night, after gunshots were reported on the premises. The US Secret Service confirmed that no one was injured in the "shooting incident", and one person has been taken into custody. The suspect was later identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31. In an address from the White House, Trump said it was "always shocking when this happens, that never changes". Immediately after the incident, the president wrote on Truth Social: "The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we 'LET THE SHOW GO ON' but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement." He followed up with a second post, where he said law enforcement had requested that he and the first lady leave the premises. The White House Correspondents' Dinner is an American press tradition that dates back to 1921, and is historically attended by the sitting president. This was the first time Trump had attended the event as a sitting president; he was last in attendance in 2011. What happened? CCTV footage posted by Trump from the Washington Hilton hotel, where the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner was taking place, shows a person rushing past security officers, who then turn and chase him. Police said that security officials and the suspect exchanged fire, without saying how many shots were fired. Citing police sources, CBS said at least five to eight shots were fired. Inside the ballroom itself, where more than 2,000 people had gathered for the event, footage showed Trump and the first lady at their seats on a stage at the front of the room talking to other guests, when loud bangs were heard in the distance. They appeared to notice commotion in the room and were then rushed from the stage by security, while some guests took cover. Several Secret Service agents ran to the stage, holding weapons, as attendees were seen ducking under the circular tables. Several BBC correspondents were in attendance at the dinner, and described scenes of widespread confusion following the sound of gunshots. The room was briefly locked down, before an announcement that the event would be delayed and rescheduled. Attendees were ushered from the room, with many attempting to report on the unfolding events. Trump later posted a close-up photo shows a shirtless man on the floor with his hands cuffed behind his back with Secret Service standing around him. What did Trump say after the shooting? Speaking from the White House an hour or so after the incident, the president said that a "very sick man" had been taken into custody after he charged security at the Washington Hilton hotel with a "powerful" weapon". Trump said one Secret Service agent was shot at very close range in the incident, but saved by his bullet-proof vest. "I just spoke to the officer, and he's doing great," he said. "He has very high spirits, and we told him we love him and respect him, and he's a very proud guy." The president described a room that was "totally unified", with a "tremendous amount of love and coming together". He said he had wanted the event to resume but protocol prevented this. The president also referred to two previous attempts on his life, including at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, and another time while Trump was golfing in Palm Beach, Florida, in September 2024. He said it was "always shocking when this happens, that never changes", noting that the first lady was "rather traumatised" by the incident. The president also thanked the media, who he says were "very responsible" in their coverage of the unfolding situation. And he confirmed that he had directed that both the image of the detained suspect and the video of a man rushing past security officers to be circulated. Who is the suspect and what has he been charged with? US media have quoted law enforcement sources as identifying the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California. He told law enforcement officials that he wanted to shoot Trump administration officials, two sources told CBS, the BBC's North American news partners. At a press conference, Washington DC's interim police chief Jeffery Carroll said the alleged gunman was a hotel guest where the event was taking place. Carroll said he was "armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives". Pictures later emerged showing FBI agents and police searching an area at a California address believed to be linked to the alleged gunman. He worked for a tutoring firm in Torrance called C2 Education, two law enforcement sources confirmed to CBS. In December 2024, he received a "Teacher of the Month" award from the company, CBS reported. She added that he would be formally charged on Monday in federal court.