Will Oliver / EPA
Donald Trump’s Press Conference at the White House, after shots were fired at the Washington Hilton Hotel during the Gala Press Dinner
The international community is reacting this Sunday to Saturday night, during the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner, where gunshots were heard at the hotel where the event was being held.
The Portuguese Prime Minister, Luis Montenegrotoday condemned what he called the President of the USA, Donald Trumpand stated that democracy cannot tolerate violence.
“I strongly condemn the attempted attack tonight against the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump. Democracy and those who defend it cannot tolerate or compromise with political violence”, wrote Luís Montenegro on the social network X.
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallaalso congratulated himself on Donald Trump and the other guests meeting “safely”.
“I’m glad to know that all participants, including President Trump, are safe after the shooting occurred at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” said Kallas in a message on social media, in which he condemned what happened and stated that “political violence has no place in a democracy”.
The head of EU diplomacy added that “an event aimed at honoring press freedom should never become a scene of fear”.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu expressed shock with what he described as “attempted murder” by the American president. “We were shocked by the assassination attempt against President Donald Trump last night in Washington,” Netanyahu wrote on social media, quoted by the Spanish news agency EFE.
“We feel relieved knowing that the President and the First Lady are meeting well and safeo”, said Netanyahu in the message, which he signed jointly with his wife, Sara.
Yuri Grips / EPA
Security agents on alert after hearing gunshots at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, where Donald Trump was present
Also the Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Saarused social media to condemn “in the strongest possible terms” the incident in Washington. “Israel unconditionally supports the United States and President Trump”, assured the head of Israel’s diplomacy.
Saar congratulated US security forces for quick action to neutralize the attacker. “Zero tolerance towards political violence”, he stated.
In Tokyo, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the shooting and considered that violence could not be tolerated anywhere in the world. “I feel relieved to know that President Trump is safe after the terrifying shooting,” Takaichi said on social media.
The mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdanialso spoke out about the attack, to reject “political violence” and express relief because Trump and everyone at the dinner were unharmed. “Political violence is absolutely unacceptable”, stated Mamdani.
About two hours after the incident, at a press conference held at the White House, Trump described the detained suspect as a “potential killer”.
According to the president, the man was in possession of multiple weapons when he was detained by the Secret Service. “This It’s not the first time in recent times years since our Republic has been attacked by a potential killer looking to killr”, wrote the North American head of state.
Before the press conference, Trump published in his Truth Social one of the man detained by the Secret Service, and with images showing the suspect running towards a security barricade as police officers run towards them.
According to the Secret Service, the attacker hit a limb of the security forces, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, and that the agent is expected to recover without consequences. “He was shot at close range with a very powerful weaponand the vest did its job”, said Donald Trump.
The US president described the shooter, a resident of the state of California, as “a madman” and “a person with serious problems”guaranteeing that he acted alone and calling him “lone wolf”.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the identity of the suspect, but, according to North American media, it is Cole Tomas Allen31 years old, from Torrance, California.
Donald Trump was in 2024, during the presidential campaign. At the time, he was removed by the Secret Service from the stage where he was giving a speech, after being hit in the ear by a bullet fired by a 20 year old young manwho was killed on the spot.
