Chaos erupted at the annual White House correspondents’ dinner when a gunman barged into the lobby outside the ballroom, prompting the quick evacuation of Donald Trump.
During the incident, a Secret Service agent was shot at close range but survived thanks to his bulletproof vest. Meanwhile, attendees at the Washington Hilton Hotel ballroom sought cover by hiding under tables. Trump, unharmed, was swiftly escorted off stage as gunshots rang out. Authorities later identified the shooter as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, armed with a handgun, shotgun, and multiple knives.
Addressing the media post-attack, Trump referred to the suspect as a “lone wolf whack job.”
8:35 pm: The incident unfolded around 8:35 pm local time (1:35 am UK time) with gunshots heard in the hotel, prompting guests to seek shelter. The Secret Service swiftly removed the US President from the stage.
9:17 pm: Trump made his first post on Truth Social following the incident, confirming the apprehension of the suspect. He commended the Secret Service and law enforcement for their response.
9:36 pm: Trump disclosed that law enforcement advised him to leave the hotel promptly, stating that he and other officials were unharmed and safe.
10:29 pm: The President shared CCTV footage online from the hotel lobby, showing the suspect sprinting past officers towards the ballroom where 2,500 guests were present. Trump also posted images of the suspect’s detention within the hotel.
10:30 pm: Trump, accompanied by FBI chief Kash Patel and Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche, held a news conference from the White House, reiterating that the suspect was a “lone wolf whack job.”
10:50 pm: The suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from California, by US media outlets.
11:10 pm: Police in Torrance, California, were seen searching a residence believed to be linked to the suspect, with numerous officers present late at night.
11:15 pm: The US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, announced plans