The 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC turned into chaos when gunshots were heard and an armed man breached a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton, forcing Secret Service agents to rush President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump off the stage.
Trump later said he initially thought the sound was harmless, but the situation escalated quickly. One Secret Service agent was shot but survived due to protective gear, and no other attendees were injured.
The suspect, later identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California, was quickly apprehended. Authorities say he was armed with multiple weapons and exchanged fire with security after allegedly storming the venue. Investigators also believe he may have had prior access to the hotel as a guest.
Allen, a Caltech graduate and part-time tutor, had no known major criminal history, though he had recently worked in education and tech-related fields. His background is now under full FBI investigation, including possible motives and online activity.
He was charged with assault on a federal officer and using a firearm during a violent crime, and is expected to appear in court on Monday.
Officials confirmed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner will be rescheduled with increased security following the incident.