President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed solidarity with the leader of the United States, Donald Trump, and first lady Melania Trump, after a man opened fire during the White House correspondents’ dinner, on Saturday night (25).
On social media, Lula said that Brazil “vehemently” repudiates the attack: “my solidarity with President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and everyone present at the dinner with correspondents in Washington. Brazil vehemently repudiates last night’s attack. Political violence is an affront to the democratic values that we must all protect.”
US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed from the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner by Secret Service agents on Saturday night after a man armed with a shotgun tried to bypass security, authorities said.
The gunman shot at a Secret Service agent, an FBI official told Reuters. About two hours after the incident, Trump told reporters at the White House that the agent was saved by the bulletproof vest and was “fine.”
All federal officials present at the dinner, including Trump, were safe. “Quite a night in Washington. The Secret Service and law enforcement did a fantastic job,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“A man attacked a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons and was detained by some very brave members of the Secret Service,” Trump said.
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Closed-circuit TV footage released by Trump on Truth Social showed someone quickly running through a security checkpoint, momentarily catching security officers by surprise before they quickly drew their weapons.
According to CNN, Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was identified as the armed man near the event that had President Donald Trump and other officials among the guests.
*Com Reuters
