Yuri Grips / EPA
Donald and Melania Trump at the Press Gala Dinner, shortly before the shooting at the Washington Hilton Hotel
Trump was removed from the podium at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner after gunshots were heard near the hotel room. An armed man, who the president described as “a madman” and “a person with serious problems”, was detained by the secret services.
The United States Secret Service removed the American president, Donald Trumpfrom the room where a gala dinner was taking place, after a man, who had now been detained, had open fire inside the hotel where the event took place.
The President, the First Lady Melania Trumpor vice-president JD Vance and other members of the US Government were taken from the hall where the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was taking place on Saturday after gunshots were heard.
Secret Service agents and other security forces they started running in the hall where dinner was taking place while they screamed to the hundreds of guests hide under tables. Some in the crowd reported hearing what they believed to be between five to eight shots fired outsider.
The ballroom, where hundreds of journalists, celebrities and national leaders, including the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and the Secretary of State Marco Rubioawaiting Trump’s speech, it was immediately evacuated.
Members of the National Guard from the USA positioned themselves inside the hotel while the people were allowed to leave, but not to return. Security was also reinforced outside, with helicopters flying over the building.
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.
The dinner has been canceled and will take place on another date.
“He was a potential killer”
About two hours after the incident, at a press conference held at the White House, Donald Trump described the suspect detained after the shooting 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”, said the North American head of state.
“IThis won’t make me give up on winning the war in Iran“, declared the North American President at the press conference.
As he told the press Jeffery CarrollWashington police chief said that the suspect in the shooting was was probably staying at the hotel and that the target was still unknown.
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”.
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.
Also the president of the Washington Chamber, Muriel Bowserstated, at the same press conference, that the suspect acted alonethe. “We have no reason to believe at this time that anyone else was involved,” Bowser said. “There does not appear to be any danger to the public at this time.”
According to the United States Attorney General, Jeanine Pirro, the suspect was charged with illegal possession of weapons and assault.
Donald Trump highlighted that the shooter “was very far away” from the room where the dinner was taking place. “There was no chance of him getting into the room.. The hall was isolated,” he added.
Despite praising the security forces and security measures as “very effective”, the US president commented that the Washington Hilton Hotel “not a particularly safe building“.
It was in front of this hotel that the North American President Ronald Reagan He was shot and injured in 1981, during an assassination attempt.
