WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he “wasn’t worried” during the shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner over the weekend, even as Secret Service agents rushed him and other officials to safety.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 31‑year‑old Cole Tomas Allen of California. He was subdued at the scene and is due to appear in federal court Monday on charges including firearms violations and assault on a federal officer.
The incident unfolded Saturday night outside the Washington Hilton, where the annual press gala was underway. Guests inside the ballroom ducked under tables as shots rang out near the security screening area. One Secret Service officer was struck but survived thanks to a bullet‑resistant vest.
Trump, attending the dinner for the first time as sitting president, told reporters afterward that he trusted the Secret Service and “never felt in danger.” C‑SPAN cameras captured the moment agents escorted him off stage.
The FBI and Secret Service are investigating the attack as politically motivated, citing writings Allen had circulated critical of Trump administration policies.
Similar episodes of politically charged violence have shaken U.S. politics in recent years, including the 2017 shooting at a congressional baseball practice that injured Rep. Steve Scalise, and the 2022 arrest of an armed man near Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home.
Lawmakers from both parties condemned the attack as “an assault on democracy.” Advocacy groups renewed calls for stronger protections for journalists and public figures. On social media, hashtags such as #WHCD2026 and #StopPoliticalViolence trended, with many expressing relief that no guests were injured but alarm at the growing frequency of such incidents.
