President Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner Saturday night after a gunman opened fire at the hotel, striking one Secret Service agent who was saved by his bulletproof vest. The suspect, 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance, California, is in custody and hospitalized.
The shooting erupted at 8:30 p.m. ET, sending attendees diving under tables as Secret Service agents whisked Trump and First Lady Melania Trump off the stage. Allen carried both a shotgun and handgun, according to two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation.
"It's a dangerous profession," Trump told reporters when asked about threats to his life. The president said he initially thought the gunfire was "a tray going down" but quickly realized the gravity of the situation. "But it was a gun," he said. "Melania was very cognisant, I think, of what happened. I think she knew immediately what happened."
Allen told law enforcement after his arrest that he wanted to shoot "administration officials," though he didn't specifically target Trump, according to two sources who spoke to CBS News. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said charges will be filed "shortly" as the investigation continues.
The wounded Secret Service agent was "shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun," Trump said, but "the vest did the job." Trump spoke with the officer afterward and described him as being in good spirits. The president emphasized he was "very far away" when shots were fired and that Allen "hadn't come anywhere close to breach the doors of the room."
Trump released photos of the suspect and security video of the incident, calling it evidence of "the violence of this thug that attacked the Constitution." The footage also showed "how quickly Secret Service and law enforcement acted," according to the president.
The attack transformed what Trump called "an event dedicated to freedom of speech" into a moment that paradoxically unified the room. "I saw a room that was just totally unified," Trump said. "It was, in one way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing to see." The event was supposed to bring together members of both parties with members of the press.
This marks another serious security incident involving the president, as Insider Wire previously reported on threats to high-profile political events. The shooting underscores the persistent security challenges facing the Secret Service in protecting senior officials at public gatherings.
Trump said he "fought like hell" to keep the dinner going but law enforcement overruled him. The president announced the event will be rescheduled within the next 30 days, setting up another high-profile security challenge for the Secret Service.
