Annual Dinner Postponed After Shooting
During President Donald Trump‘s first term as president, he famously chose not to attend the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.
This broke with tradition from previous presidents, who often deliver humorous speeches before an audience largely comprised of reporters and media figures.
On Saturday, April 25, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were seated at the front of the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.
However, as the festivities were set to begin, at approximately 8:30 p.m., a loud series of gunshots rang out from the lobby — purportedly five shots were fired, in all.
Secret Service pinned Trump to the ground, telling Trump, “Stay down! Stay down!”
He and the First Lady were then evacuated from the venue, and other members of the Trump administration — including Sec. of War Pete Hegseth and HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — filed out.
The alleged shooter, identified as Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, is in custody, with Trump previously noting the alleged shooter was “apprehended.”
Fox News reports that one Secret Service agent was shot in his bullet proof vest. Trump verified this, and confirmed the agent is doing well, saying, “The vest did the job.”
Notably in attendance was Erika Kirk — widow to the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10 at an event at Utah Valley University — was in attendance and was overheard saying as she was evacuated, “I just want to go home.”
Watch the moment Trump was pinned for his safety by Secret Service, here:
“Stay down!”
President Trump and others are evacuated from White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.#WHCD #WHCA #NerdProm
Watch LIVE here: https://t.co/OQnyC97cOI pic.twitter.com/CllmnyjoWD
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 26, 2026
Here is an angle of the response to the shots fired from within the ballroom of the Hilton:
Watch the surveillance footage of the shooting, here:
WATCH: Chaotic moments after shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner pic.twitter.com/cndtlIatDt
— BNO News (@BNONews) April 26, 2026
Secret Service has issued a statement on the situation on X, writing that “the president and the first lady are safe.”
Further, “law enforcement is actively assessing the situation.”
We will provide updates as they become available and confirm information. Our teams are on the ground assessing the situation and investigating. All of our protectees are safe. pic.twitter.com/BYl6sR5WVU
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) April 26, 2026
Trump Responds To Shooting At Correspondents’ Dinner
During a press conference from the White House, President Trump, who was still wearing his tuxedo, stated, “This was an event dedicated to freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both parties, with members of the press, and, in a certain way, it did.”
He added, “The fact that they just unified us — I saw a room that was just totally unified, it was, in one way, very beautiful. A very beautiful thing to see.”
Trump went on to say, “In light of this evening’s events, I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our difference peacefully. We have to resolve our differences — I will say, you had Republicans, Democrats, Independents, conservatives, liberals, and progressives … there was a tremendous amount of love and coming together.”
He added, “I was very impressed.”
Trump noted that a man had rushed through security at the Hilton Hotel with several weapons — FBI Director Kash Patel said he had a long gun — with Trump having surveillance footage of the shooter attacking being released on Truth Social. He added that the footage shows “this thug” who “attacked our Constitution.”
Regarding the postponing of the Correspondents’ Dinner, Trump said he was following protocol, but noted, “I fought like hell to stay.”
Watch the news conference, here:
This shooting follows several other attempts on Trump’s life, including the harrowing assassination attempt on the campaign trail in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. There, Trump was grazed by a bullet on the right ear, and firefighter Corey Comperatore was killed by a stray bullet in the audience behind Trump.
Later, on Sept. 15, 2024, Ryan Routh was arrested after hiding out on the grounds of Mar-a-Lago, preparing to assassinate then-candidate Trump as he golfed.
Responding to the April 25 shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, Trump posted on Truth Social, saying, “Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely.”
See his full post, here:
Then, a few minutes later, Trump offered an update, noting that the 2026 Correspondents’ Dinner was going to be postponed.
See his full comment, here:
