The Washington Hilton hotel defended its security procedures Monday, saying it followed "stringent" Secret Service protocols during Saturday's White House Correspondents Association dinner when an armed man charged a security checkpoint and exchanged gunfire with law enforcement officers.
The hotel issued a statement three days after Cole Tomas Allen stormed the venue in what authorities are calling the third assassination attempt against President Trump. The attack sent hundreds of journalists, politicians, and celebrities scrambling for cover as shots rang out in the hotel's corridors.
"The hotel was operating under stringent Secret Service protocols," the Hilton said in its Monday statement, without providing additional details about the specific security measures in place. The hotel has hosted the annual correspondents' dinner for decades, making it one of Washington's most high-profile security events.
The gunman's breach of the security perimeter raises fresh questions about protection protocols for Trump, who has now survived three assassination attempts since announcing his 2024 presidential campaign. Allen, a California engineer, had written a manifesto targeting Trump administration officials before the attack.
Secret Service agents and hotel security personnel engaged Allen in a firefight that lasted several minutes before subduing him. No attendees were killed, though several law enforcement officers sustained injuries during the confrontation. Trump was evacuated from the venue within minutes of the shooting's start.
The Hilton's defense comes as Congress prepares hearings into the security failures that allowed Allen to penetrate multiple checkpoints. Republican lawmakers have already announced plans to investigate whether the Secret Service's protocols matched the threat level posed by a dinner attended by the president and hundreds of high-profile targets.
Hotel industry experts say venues hosting presidential events typically undergo weeks of advance security planning, including structural modifications, background checks for all staff, and coordination between multiple law enforcement agencies. The Hilton would have been required to surrender operational control to the Secret Service days before the event.
Allen had researched the hotel's layout and security procedures for months before the attack, according to FBI investigators. His detailed planning suggests potential gaps in the screening process for areas surrounding the secure perimeter.
The shooting has already triggered calls for enhanced security at future White House Correspondents' dinners, with some suggesting the event should be moved to a more secure government facility. The dinner has been held at the Washington Hilton since 1987, chosen partly for its large ballroom capacity and central location.
Congressional Republicans are demanding a full security review before any future events involving Trump at the hotel. The Secret Service has not yet responded to questions about whether protocols will change for upcoming presidential appearances at the venue.
