Investigators say the gunman who tried to force his way into the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington was likely targeting President Donald Trump and other senior administration officials, as fresh questions mount over the security arrangements at one of the capital’s highest-profile political gatherings. Trump was rushed from the Washington Hilton ballroom by Secret Service agents on Saturday night after shots were fired near a security checkpoint outside the dinner hall.
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Sunday that early evidence suggested the suspect intended to attack members of the administration, though investigators were still working to establish a full motive. Blanche said the suspect was not cooperating with authorities and was expected to face formal charges in federal court in Washington. Reuters reported that officials identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.
According to investigators, Allen arrived at the Washington Hilton armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives, then attempted to breach the event’s security perimeter before opening fire. One Secret Service agent was struck at close range but survived because of body armor, officials said. The suspect was subdued and arrested at the scene after a brief exchange of gunfire.
Trump later posted surveillance footage of the incident and said the attacker had written what he described as an “anti-Christian” manifesto. Reuters reported that the manifesto, sent to family members shortly before the attack, criticized what the suspect saw as the lack of security at the venue. Blanche said investigators believe Allen traveled by train from the Los Angeles area to Chicago and then on to Washington, and that the firearms had been purchased over the last several years.
Inside the ballroom, the sudden security response triggered chaos as agents swarmed the room and guests took cover. Among those present were Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, cabinet members, lawmakers and hundreds of journalists and guests attending the annual black-tie dinner. Trump later said he initially thought the sound was a dropped tray before realizing shots had been fired. He also urged that the event be rescheduled within 30 days.
The shooting has renewed scrutiny of presidential security protocols, especially at the Washington Hilton, a venue with its own violent history: it was the site of the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. Reuters said the latest incident has already prompted debate over whether the hotel provides adequate protection for a sitting president at a crowded public-facing event.
