Shooting at event with Trump's participation: US President and First Lady urgently evacuated

US President Donald Trump and members of his administration were evacuated from the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner held on Saturday, April 25, at the Washington Hilton hotel due to a "security threat."

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to local media, gunshots were heard in the hotel.

Secret Service agents surrounded the banquet hall of the hotel, where more than a hundred people were waiting for Trump's speech. Some attendees reported hearing between five and eight gunshots. The shooter did not enter the hall itself; the incident occurred in one of the other rooms of the hotel.

Among those present at the event, in addition to Trump, were First Lady Melania Trump, US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. All guests were evacuated.

President Donald Trump has posted on Truth Social a video captured by the hotel’s security cameras showing the assassination attempt in the lobby of the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. pic.twitter.com/5wr35paeJw

— Reynier de la Torre (@ReynierDeLaTor1) April 26, 2026

Later, D. Trump announced that the Secret Service had detained the suspected shooter. He turned out to be 31-year-old California resident Cole Thomas Allen.

"An eventful evening in Washington, D.C. The Secret Service and law enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and courageously. The shooter has been detained, and I recommended to 'continue the show,' however I will fully be guided by the recommendations of law enforcement," the US President wrote on the social network Truth Social and shared a photo of the suspected shooter.

Some time after the shooting, Trump held a press conference. He said the attacker had several weapons and that he hit one of the Secret Service agents, who was protected by a bulletproof vest.

🚨🇺🇸 BREAKING: The suspect in the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California.

-Video has emerged showing someone on the ground with U.S. Secret Service agents inside the Washington Hilton

-Believed to… https://t.co/EOkEIKYxj1 pic.twitter.com/PQoka3QLSR

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 26, 2026

According to Trump, due to the incident, it was decided to reschedule the meeting with journalists.