President Donald Trump has issued a response after he and nearly his entire cabinet were evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington D.C. on Saturday night.
While speaking at the White House Brady Press Briefing Room, President Trump confirmed that the gunman charged an outer security checkpoint outside the event lobby. Security camera footage shared by the president shows the gunman charging forward, seemingly armed with a long gun, towards the checkpoint.
A number of Secret Service agents could then be seen drawing their weapons and returning fire. The gunman, identified by multiple reports as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, was then apprehended.
Trump confirmed that the gunman was then transported to a local hospital and is currently in custody, alive. In a follow-up post, he shared a close-up photo of the attacker face down on the floor.
The photo matches the description of Cole Tomas Allen.
At least one Secret Service agent was injured in the exchange, though the bullet was deflected by their chest plate. The president confirmed that he had spoken with the agent, who was described as being in good spirits and not seriously injured.
According to the president, the gunman was armed with “multiple weapons” in addition to the long gun seen in the footage.
The shooting occurred around 8:40 p.m. Eastern Time, just after the dinner formally got underway.
The president, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other senior officials were immediately covered up and evacuated from the venue within seconds of shots ringing out. Footage from the scene confirmed that multiple shots were fired.
The event was ultimately cancelled for the evening despite President Trump’s wishes to continue.
“The U.S. Secret Service, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The president and first lady are safe along with all protectees,” the Secret Service said in an official press release. “One individual is in custody. The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation.”
An unnamed FBI official told Reuters that the suspect appeared to have been armed with a shotgun.
Elsewhere in the press conference, Trump stressed the importance of completing his planned White House ballroom renovation. He described the move as a security necessity given Saturday night’s events.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that the suspect is being interrogated and added that charges will likely be filed shortly. Both Blanche and the president further confirmed that a search of the gunman’s California residence was underway.
