Sources

• Trump safe after being rushed from White House correspondents dinner, shooter in custody - Reuters
• Live updates: Trump and Vance evacuated from White House Correspondents' dinner after security incident - AP
• Trump says injured officer in 'great shape' after shooter stormed security at correspondents' dinner - BBC
• Live updates: Trump evacuated from White House Correspondents' Association dinner - Washington Post
• Trump unhurt after shots fired at White House Correspondents' dinner - Al Jazeera
• President Trump speaks about shooting incident at White House Correspondents' Dinner - NPR
• Chaotic scenes as Trump rushed from White House Correspondents' Dinner - Reuters Pictures

Trump Assassination Attempt at White House Correspondents' Dinner: Suspect Cole Tomas Allen in Custody

A Trump assassination attempt unfolded Saturday night at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, when an armed man identified by law enforcement as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, opened fire near the security screening area at the Washington Hilton. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and members of the Cabinet were evacuated unharmed. One Secret Service agent was struck but was protected by a ballistic vest and not injured. The suspect was apprehended alive and is in custody.

It is the second confirmed attempt on Trump's life since the July 2024 shooting at a Pennsylvania campaign rally in Butler — and the first since he returned to the White House.

What We Know About the Trump Assassination Attempt

According to Secret Service statements reported by Reuters and the Associated Press, the incident began at the magnetometer screening area near the main ballroom entrance, where most of the more than 2,000 guests had already cleared security.

The armed individual drew a weapon and opened fire, striking an agent in a vest-covered area. Agents tackled the suspect within seconds. He was taken into custody alive — without being shot — and transported to Howard University Hospital. Footage of shots fired at the White House correspondents' dinner spread across X within minutes; networks cut to live coverage as Trump was rushed off the stage.

Trump Evacuated From the Washington Hilton

The dinner — an annual gathering of White House reporters, administration officials, and celebrities — was canceled on the spot. The Washington Hilton is the same hotel where President Ronald Reagan was wounded in a 1981 assassination attempt, a coincidence multiple outlets have already noted.

The White House Correspondents' Association says it intends to reschedule the dinner within 30 days. Trump told reporters he plans to attend the makeup event.

Who Is Cole Allen, the Trump Shooter?

Law enforcement officials identified the suspect to the Associated Press as Cole Tomas Allen (also reported as Cole Thomas Allen), 31, of Torrance, California. The AP reported Allen was a teacher with no known criminal record and was carrying multiple weapons, including a shotgun, a handgun, and knives.

Speaking from the White House later that night, Trump described the suspect as a "lone wolf" and a "sick person from California" who, he said, had "studied assassinations." Federal law enforcement has not yet released a formal motive, charging documents, or details about how Allen reached the security perimeter at the Washington Hilton.

Trump's Response

Trump posted on Truth Social that the shooter "has been apprehended" and praised the Secret Service and federal law enforcement. He returned to the White House and addressed reporters within roughly an hour:

"Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended."

He added that the wounded agent was "in great shape" thanks to his vest, calling the night's response "better than the assassination attempt in Butler" — a reference to the July 2024 Pennsylvania rally attack.

What's Next

The FBI is leading the investigation. Lawmakers from both parties have called for an immediate review of Secret Service protocols at high-profile public events, and several outlets are reporting renewed scrutiny of how a ticketed guest reportedly cleared one screening layer before drawing a weapon.

This is a developing story. The World Now will update as official details on Cole Tomas Allen, his motive, and the federal charges he faces are released.