- During the shooting in the Washington hotel, the attacker was neutralized by members of the Secret Service.
- Trump called on Americans to resolve conflicts peacefully and reject violence.
- The president called the 31-year-old suspect from California a lone wolf.
- The gunman faces federal charges for the shooting and assaulting the officers.
US President Donald At a news conference Sunday after the shooting at a press dinner at a Washington hotel, Trump said the suspect was “taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service.” One of them was shot, but according to Trump, he was protected by the bulletproof vest he was wearing. At the same time, the President called on the Americans to resolve their differences peacefully, reports TASR.
“He was shot at very close range with a very powerful weapon and the bulletproof vest did its job,” he said of the Secret Service agent. The attacker, whom he described as a “potential assassin”, had “multiple weapons”, according to him.
Trump also mentioned an incident in 2024 when he was the target of an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, in which he suffered an ear injury. He said he has studied assassinations and believes people focus on those who had the “biggest impact,” mentioning US President Abraham Lincoln, who died after being assassinated in 1865.
“But in light of tonight’s events, I am asking all Americans to recommit in their hearts to the peaceful resolution of our differences. We must, we must resolve our differences.” he stated.
According to him, the building where the event was held is “not very safe”. He repeatedly said that they will host the dinner again in the next 30 days and it will be “bigger, better and even more beautiful”.
They posted on Trump’s Truth Social platform around the beginning of the press conference photo of the alleged shooter, a 31-year-old man from California. The president says he is a “very sick person”. “He was a lone wolf in my opinion,” Trump said, saying he saw no reason to believe the attack was related to the war in Iran.
His actions toward Tehran may have made him a target, but he says he will not be deterred. “When you do things like that, you become a target. If I didn’t do that, I think I would be a lot less of a target, but it’s an honor to be one,” he told reporters. “It won’t deter me from winning the war in Iran,” he declared.
Acting Justice Minister Todd Blanche announced at a press conference that authorities will soon press charges against the assailant. Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Secret Service continue to search the Washington Hilton Hotel where the incident occurred. “I promise that justice will be done,” he declared.
FBI agents are examining all ballistics evidence, including “a long firearm and shell casings,” according to FBI director Kash Patel. They are also interviewing witnesses and urged anyone with information about the incident to report it to the FBI.
The suspect will be arraigned in federal court on Monday, said US Attorney General for Washington Jeanine Pirrová. According to her, the attacker faces two charges for using a firearm during a crime of violence and for assaulting federal officers with a dangerous weapon.
