A gunman attempted to assassinate President Donald J. Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday, wounding a Secret Service agent before being detained.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Cole Thomas Allen, a California Institute of Technology graduate in his thirties with no known criminal record and not under surveillance, was armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives. The suspect breached a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., fired several shots before being stopped by Secret Service agents.
The attack occurred approximately 60 to 100 yards from where President Trump and an estimated 3,000 guests were gathered. President Trump confirmed at a press conference that one agent was shot “from a very close distance with a very powerful gun” but survived due to a bulletproof vest. He stated the agent is in “great shape” and “very high spirits,” shared security camera footage of the incident, and provided a picture of Allen in custody on his Truth Social platform.
Trump also reported that the First Lady, Vice President, and all Cabinet members are in perfect condition. He confirmed he has spoken with representatives responsible for organizing the event and stated the dinner will be rescheduled within 30 days. The incident follows concerns about Trump’s security after two previous assassination attempts in Butler, Pennsylvania, and West Palm Beach, Florida. In September, far-left activists were able to come within a short distance of Trump at a seafood restaurant in Washington, D.C., shouting “Free D.C.! Free Palestine! Trump is the Hitler of our time!”
