On the evening of April 25, 2026, the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., was interrupted by a security incident. While the event was underway, an armed individual identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen attempted to breach a security checkpoint near the ballroom where President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and other senior administration officials were in attendance.
During the encounter, gunfire was exchanged. Law enforcement officials reported that one Secret Service agent was struck, though they survived thanks to the protection of a ballistic vest. President Trump and other government leaders were immediately evacuated from the ballroom by their security details and transported to safety.
President Trump, who was uninjured during the incident, later addressed the public, praising the rapid response of law enforcement and noting that the agent who was wounded was in good spirits. The event was formally canceled for the evening, with organizers announcing plans to reschedule the dinner. Federal agencies, including the FBI and the Secret Service, launched an investigation into the incident, which authorities stated appeared to be a targeted attack against Trump administration officials.
This event marked the first time President Trump had attended the dinner during his presidency and occurred in a location historically significant for security concerns, having been the site of the 1981 attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan.
Witness accounts of the attack
This video features firsthand accounts from journalists who were inside the ballroom during the security incident.
