Author: Gist Correspondent

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed to safety on Saturday night after an armed man reportedly opened fire during a high-profile journalists’ dinner at the Washington Hilton in the United States.

The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California, allegedly stormed the hotel lobby armed with guns and knives and attempted to force his way toward the ballroom where Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior officials were attending the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Guests reportedly dived under tables as panic spread across the underground ballroom, with several witnesses saying they heard multiple gunshots. A law enforcement officer was struck in a bullet-resistant vest and is expected to recover.

Secret Service agents quickly subdued the suspect and evacuated all officials under federal protection. Trump and his wife were unharmed and briefly taken to a secure presidential suite within the hotel before later returning to the White House.

Speaking afterward, Trump described the suspect as a “sick person” and suggested investigators believed he acted alone.

“When you’re impactful, they go after you. When you’re not impactful, they leave you alone,” Trump said, adding that authorities viewed the attacker as a lone wolf.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said there was no indication of a wider threat and assured the public there was no immediate danger.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that criminal charges would be filed shortly, while FBI Director Kash Patel said investigators were examining a long gun and shell casings recovered at the scene.

The incident marked the third major security threat involving Trump since 2024, including the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was injured and a supporter was killed.

The dinner, attended by top journalists, celebrities and political leaders, was eventually cancelled after a brief attempt to continue. White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang said the event would be rescheduled.

The annual dinner had been expected to spotlight Trump’s tense relationship with the media, but the evening instead ended in chaos as security forces sealed off the hotel and evacuated hundreds of guests.