President Trump evacuated from Correspondents’ Dinner shooting. Gunman identified
A shooting at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner led to the evacuation of the president. According to Secret Service, the incident happened near a security checkpoint.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were escorted from the event, according to USA Today. As attendees ducked for cover, many shielded themselves by crouching beside tables.
“The president and the first lady are safe along with all protectees,” said Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi in a statement. “One individual is in custody.”
The shooter has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, the Associated Press reported.
During a news conference after the incident, President Trump said the shooter was from California, calling them “a very sick person.”
“We were whisked away, along with other people,” he said. “It was very quick, there wasn’t a lot of time for thinking. Because it was a matter of seconds before we were out the door.”
One member of Secret Service was shot, Trump said during the news conference. The Secret Service agent was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time.
“He was shot from a very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job,” Trump said. “I just spoke to the officer, and he’s doing great.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche said the investigation is underway and charges are expected to be filed shortly.
“I promise you justice will be served,” Blanche said.
Trump said the shooter was intercepted by Secret Service before they made it through the doors of the ballroom.
He also promised he would attend the dinner when it is rescheduled, anticipating it would happen within the next month.
“I was all set to really rip in. I said to my people, ‘well, this would be the most inappropriate speech.’ I don’t know if I could ever be as rough as was going to be tonight,” Trump said. “I think I’m going to be probably very nice. I’ll be very boring the next time.”
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is the main fundraiser for the White House Correspondents’ Association, according to its website. It raises funds for scholarships, events and programs.
U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Bonsall, said he was among those in attendance.
“I was there at the event tonight,” Issa said in a post. “And I’ll be there again or anywhere else to support this president.”
CNN reporter Wolf Blitzer said he was “a few feet away” from who he believes was the gunman at the time of the shooting.
“All the sudden a guy with a weapon, it was a very, very serious weapon, it starts shooting, and I happened to have been a few feet away from him as he was shooting,” Blitzer said.
New York Times reporter Shawn McCreesh described sounds of screaming and “plates shattering”.
“A Secret Service agent in a tuxedo had escorted me to the men’s room moments before the shooting began in the hall just outside,” McCreesh wrote. “We heard screaming and what sounded like plates shattering. We darted out of the bathroom. As we turned the corner, other agents had their guns drawn and pointed directly at us. They started screaming at us to run across the hall and get low.”
During Saturday night’s news conference, Trump said the building wasn’t “particularly secure,” and that it showed the need for a ballroom at the White House.
“This is why we have to have all the attributes of what we’re planning at the White House,” he said. “It’s actually a larger room, and it’s much more secure. It’s got drone-proof, bulletproof glass. We need the ballroom.”
This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 10:29 PM with the headline "President Trump evacuated from Correspondents’ Dinner shooting. Gunman identified."
