WASHINGTON (Realist English). On the evening of 25 April, during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Washington, a shooting occurred.
US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance were rushed to safety. The attacker was detained; one Secret Service officer was wounded and is in stable condition.
Timeline of the attack
The incident took place around 8:35 p.m. local time. Approximately 2,600 guests were in the ballroom, including cabinet members, congressmen, journalists and celebrities. Trump was scheduled to deliver a speech.
The shooter attempted to break into the hall, opening fire near the metal detector frames in the lobby. He exchanged gunfire with Secret Service and police officers. One bullet hit an officer’s bulletproof vest; he was taken to hospital and is stable. The assailant was apprehended at the scene. Authorities confirmed he acted alone.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the president and his family were unharmed. The dinner was interrupted. It was later announced that the event was not cancelled but would be rescheduled within the next 30 days.
Suspect: who is he?
According to law enforcement, the suspect is Cole Thomas Allen, 31, a resident of Torrance, California. In 2017 he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and in 2025 a master’s degree in computer science from Dominican Hills University. Since 2018 he had worked as an indie game developer, releasing the fighting game “Bohrdom”, and also taught at the private company C2 Education.
District of Columbia prosecutor Janine Pirro stated that Allen intended to “cause maximum damage.” On his person were found a shotgun, a pistol and several knives. He also sent a manifesto to law enforcement, in which he called himself “Cole ‘coldForce’ ‘Friendly Federal Assassin’ Allen” and wrote that he would no longer allow “a pedophile, rapist and traitor to cover my hands with his crimes.” His motives have not yet been definitively established.
The suspect has been charged with using a firearm during a felony and assault on a federal officer. The court hearing is scheduled for 27 April.
Reaction from Trump and officials
President Trump on his Truth Social account thanked the Secret Service and law enforcement: “It was just an incredible evening in Washington. They acted quickly and bravely.” At a press conference, he described the suspect as “a very sick person” and a “lone wolf.” He also stated that he would not be intimidated and confirmed the continuation of tough immigration policies.
International reaction
Leaders of many countries expressed shock and support:
- Benjamin Netanyahu (Israel): “Sara and I were shocked by the assassination attempt. We are relieved that the president and first lady are safe.”
- Narendra Modi (India): “Relieved that President Trump, the First Lady and the Vice President are safe.”
- Keir Starmer (United Kingdom): “Shocked. Any attack on democratic institutions must be condemned.”
- Emmanuel Macron (France): “An armed attack on the US president is unacceptable.”
- Shehbaz Sharif (Pakistan): “Deeply shocked.”
The leaders of the G7 countries, in a joint statement following a virtual summit, also strongly condemned the assassination attempt, calling it an attack on democratic values.
Expert opinions
Former intelligence officer Andrew Badger called the incident a “historic security failure,” noting that eight of nine cabinet members were in the same venue. In his words, the shooter should never have been allowed so close to the president.
Analysts at Newsweek note that this event is only the latest in a rising tide of political violence in the United States. Tightening formal security measures will not solve the problem if the danger comes from the “grey zone” of online radicalisation and the hard-to-predict actions of lone individuals.
Third assassination attempt in two years
The Washington shooting is the third high‑profile incident involving Trump in the past two years:
- 4 April 2026: Security killed an intruder who tried to break into Trump’s vehicle in Florida.
- 13 July 2024: Trump was lightly wounded in the ear by a sniper at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. One spectator was killed, two wounded.
- 15 September 2024: An assassination attempt at a golf club in Florida – the intruder was spotted and detained.
Despite the threats, Trump has publicly said he does not intend to change his lifestyle or abandon public events, and called on the nation not to give in to fear.