President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and other dignitaries are safe after a shooting incident outside the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner Saturday night at the Washington, D.C., Hilton hotel.
The incident took place near the main magnetometer screening area at the event, according to the Secret Service. A suspect, whom law enforcement authorities identified as Cole Allen of Torrance, California, is in custody, officials said.
A Secret Service agent who was wearing an armored vest was struck in the chest, President Trump said at a press briefing following the incident. The Secret Service agent suffered non life-threatening injuries, according to the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department. No one else was injured in the incident.
A motive for the attack was not immediately known.
King Charles reaches out to Trump after WHCA incident, royal source says
Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla reached out to President Donald Trump following the incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, according to a royal source.
"Their Majesties have reached out privately to The President and First Lady to express their sympathies with all those affected on the night and their gratitude to the security services who prevented further injury," a royal source told ABC News.
Britain's King Charles looks on as he meets with frontline workers and members from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Services and Police Scotland who assisted in managing the fire at Glasgow Central Station, in March this year, at Dumfries House, Ayrshire. Picture date: Wednesday April 22, 2026.
Jane Barlow via Reuters
The king and queen are scheduled to arrive on Monday in Washington, where they’ll be hosted by Trump and first lady Melania Trump for a state visit, according to the White House.
ABC News' Zoe Magee
6:23 AM EDT
World leaders begin expressing solidarity after WHCA incident
International leaders expressed their shock and pledged their solidarity with the White House early on Sunday, after a suspect allegedly exchanged gunfire with authorities outside the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.
"I am shocked by the scenes at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington overnight," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement. "Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms."
He added that it was a "huge relief" that both Trump and first lady Melania Trump, along with the other attendees, were safe after the event.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, April 25, 2026.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
The suspect’s alleged actions were condemned by members of the governments of Kuwait, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and a host of other countries.
French President Emmanuel Macron decried the incident, saying, "The armed attack targeting the President of the United States last night is unacceptable. Violence has no place in a democracy. I extend my full support to Donald Trump."
"No political hatred can find space in our democracies," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said. "We will not allow fanaticism to poison the places of free debate and information. The defense of the culture of confrontation must remain the insurmountable bulwark against every intolerant drift, to safeguard the values that found our Nations."
President Donald Trump and First Lady arrive for a press briefing at the White House, following a shooting incident during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, in Washington, April 25, 2026.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office that he was "shocked" by the event, but glad the president and first lady "were safe and strong."
"We send our wishes for a full and speedy recovery to the wounded police officer and salute the US Secret Service for their swift and decisive action," Netanyahu said, according to his office.
Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun, sent Trump a cable after the incident, according to his office.
"And President Aoun expressed in his cable full solidarity with President Trump in the face of such regrettable events that target security and stability, affirming his strong condemnation of acts of violence in all their forms, and wishing that the United States of America enjoys security and safety," Aoun’s office said.
2:56 AM EDT
WHCA dinner brings back memories of Butler shooting, White House deputy chief of staff says
The chaos that erupted at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner after a suspect charged a security checkpoint brought back memories of the shooting at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a White House deputy chief of staff said early on Sunday.
Dan Scavino jumps over a chair after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner, April 25, 2026 in Washington.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
"Never thought I’d be hitting the ground again after Butler, Pennsylvania, as a result of shots being fired," Dan Scavino Jr., the deputy, said on social media. "Brings back a lot of terrible memories -- I am so thankful that everyone in attendance tonight is okay. We’re all in this together, stay strong!"
A gunman fired a barrage of shots at then-candidate Donald Trump in an apparent assassination attempt at a campaign rally in the Pennsylvania city in July 2024.
2:34 AM EDT
Law enforcement gathers near address in Torrance, California
Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and members of a SWAT team, were gathering late on Saturday near an address in Torrance, California, thought to be associated with the suspect.
An armed FBI agent stands outside the residence associated with Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., in Torrance, California, U.S., April 25, 2026.
Daniel Cole/Reuters
Authorities earlier identified Cole Allen, the suspect in the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner incident, as a resident of Torrance, a city southwest of Los Angeles.
