President Donald Trump was escorted out of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after a shooting disrupted the event in Washington, D.C.
The incident happened Saturday night at the Washington Hilton, shortly after the program began. Trump was onstage with First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance when Secret Service agents quickly moved in and escorted them out of the ballroom.
Witnesses inside the room described hearing gunshots, with some attendees taking cover under tables as the situation unfolded.
Authorities later identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen. Officials said he was armed and had moved through a security checkpoint before being taken into custody.
Trump later spoke to reporters, saying an officer was shot during the incident but was protected by a bulletproof vest and is expected to recover. He also said the response from law enforcement was immediate.
The president said he initially thought the sound was something else before realizing what was happening. He added that he had wanted to remain at the event but was advised to leave under security protocol.
The remainder of the dinner was postponed, with organizers saying it would be rescheduled at a later date.
Officials said the suspect is expected to face multiple charges, including assault on a federal officer. Investigators believe he acted alone, though the situation remains under review.
Watch President Donald Trump's official statement regarding the incident:
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