Trump evacuated after security incident at White House Correspondents’ Dinner, suspect in custody

President Donald Trump was reported uninjured and other top U.S. leaders were evacuated from an annual dinner of White House correspondents on Saturday night after gunfire erupted. One officer wearing a bullet-resistant vest was shot, but is expected to be ok, a law enforcement official said.

The Secret Service confirmed in a post on X that one person is in custody and that Trump and the first lady were safe “along all protectees.” The post added the Secret Service, alongside the Metropolitan Police Department, is “investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents’ dinner.”

The suspect rushed the Secret Service checkpoint at 8:36 p.m. E.T., D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a late-night news conference at the Washington Hilton, the site of the event.

Jeff Carroll, interim chief of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, told reporters the suspect “was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives.”

Carroll said law enforcement officers “exchanged gunfire” with the suspect, who authorities believe acted alone.

Carroll told reporters that authorities “do believe” the suspect fired a shot, but cautioned that the investigation is in its early stages.

Carroll added that authorities believe the suspect was a guest at the hotel.

A law enforcement source with direct knowledge who was briefed on the incident told MS NOW the suspect’s condition is unknown and that multiple shots were fired before the process of screening attendees of the event. It is unknown who fired shots at this time.

A former senior law enforcement official briefed on the matter told MS NOW the alleged attacker has been identified as Cole Allen from Torrance, Calif., a city about 20 miles south of Los Angeles. He is 31-years-old, according to two law enforcement officials.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro told reporters that the suspect is being charged with two counts: using a firearm during a crime of violence, and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. She said the suspect will be arraigned in federal court on Monday and that he is likely to face “many more charges.”

“It is clear, based upon what we know so far, that this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,” Pirro said.

She said the worst case scenario was prevented “because of the checkpoint right outside the ballroom” and the fast-acting law enforcement officials at the scene.

It’s unclear who was the target of the shooting incident, but Trump told a reporter it might have been him at an impromptu press conference after the incident on Saturday night.

“I guess. These people are crazy,” Trump said when asked if he thought he was the intended target. “When they’re impactful, they go after you. When you’re not impactful, they leave you alone.”

It’s unclear who was the target of the shooting incident, but Trump told a reporter it might have been him at an impromptu press conference after the incident on Saturday night.

Trump said the suspect “charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons,” adding that he was “taken down by some very brave members of Secret Service.”

The president added an officer “was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job.”

“I just spoke to the officer,” Trump added at the briefing, “and he’s doing great.”

The injured agent is currently receiving care at a hospital, and the suspect is also being evaluated at a hospital, Bowser said.

In a Truth Social post at 9:17 p.m. E.T., Trump said the suspect had been apprehended and that he hoped the evening would continue but said the final decision was up to law enforcement.

“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely.”

Trump wrote that regardless of law enforcement’s decision, “the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again.”

Despite Trump’s desire for the event to continue, Weijia Jiang, the president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, told the crowd inside the Washington Hilton ballroom following the incident that law enforcement requested they depart, in line with protocol.

Jiang announced that Trump would hold a press briefing late Saturday evening, and that he “insists” the gathering — the first Trump has attended as president during his two terms — would be rescheduled within 30 days.

She praised the journalists present for continuing to report while the incident unfolded.

“I said earlier tonight that journalism is a public service, because when there is an emergency, we run to the crisis, not away from it,” she told the crowd, “and on a night when we are thinking about the freedoms in the First Amendment, we must also think about how fragile they are. I saw all of you reporting, and that’s what we do.”

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The incident unfolded shortly after Jiang welcomed tuxedo and gown-clad journalists to the annual dinner.

Videos from the scene show the chaos unfolding. Authorities swarmed the banquet hall at the Washington Hilton as guests ducked under tables by the hundreds. “Out of the way, sir!” someone yelled. Others yelled to duck.

Some in the crowd reported hearing what they believed to be five to eight shots fired. The banquet hall — where hundreds of prominent journalists, celebrities and national leaders were awaiting Trump’s speech — was immediately evacuated. Members of the National Guard took up position inside the building as people were allowed to leave but not re-enter. Security outside was also extremely tight.

In addition to Trump and Vice President JD Vance, those in attendance included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

By 9:30 p.m. E.T., some of the Cabinet officials who had been evacuated were being ushered back into the room, including Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

An employee of MS NOW reported seeing the FBI on the scene.

Members of the pool, a group of journalists who travel alongside the president, were back at the White House Briefing Room by about 10 p.m., meaning Trump had also returned to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The live feed showed some reporters doing live shots from the briefing room in their formal wear as they awaited the president’s appearance.

At the podium, Trump said the venue was “not a particularly secure building” and said it emphasizes the need for his controversial White House ballroom.

“We need the ballroom,” he said.

“We need the ballroom.”
President donald trump

Trump pointed to social media posts, including on his Truth Social account, that appear to show photos of the suspect face down and security footage from the lobby of the venue. That video shows a figure appear to rush towards the center of the frame while authorities draw their guns.

“He was a guy who looked pretty evil when he was down,” Trump said of the suspect.

The president called the suspect “a sick person” and said authorities were already on their way to his purported residence in California.

Trump referenced the prior two attempts on his life — in Butler, Pennsylvania and at his golf course in Palm Beach — though the motive of the suspect is unclear.

FBI Director Kash Patel, Vance, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Hegseth, and Rubio accompanied Trump in the briefing room during his remarks.

Trump also praised reporters at the event — a rarity — for their reporting on the chaos.

“You’ve been very responsible in your coverage,” he told those present.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Carol Leonnig, Akayla Gardner, Jake Traylor and Peggy Helman contributed reporting.

Julianne McShane

Julianne McShane is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW who also covers the politics of abortion and reproductive rights. You can send her tips from a non-work device on Signal at jmcshane.19 or follow her on X or Bluesky.