US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he “wasn’t worried” as he was evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after a gunman opened fire near a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the annual press gala was underway. Speaking to CBS News programme 60 Minutes, Trump reflected calmly on the episode: “I understand life. We live in a crazy world.”
Gunshots rang out at approximately 8:35 PM local time on Saturday in the hotel foyer, one floor below the ballroom where hundreds of guests had gathered for the event. The president, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice-President JD Vance were rushed out of the ballroom by Secret Service agents within moments of the incident unfolding.
Trump told 60 Minutes that he had not made it easy for agents to evacuate him. “I wanted to see what was going on,” he said. At one point, security asked him to take cover and get down on the floor. He praised his protective detail as “great people.”
US media identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, a mechanical engineer and game developer from Torrance, California. He is due to appear in federal court on Monday and faces charges of assault of a federal officer and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Law enforcement exchanged fire with Allen at the security checkpoint. He was not struck by gunfire but was taken to hospital for evaluation. One officer who was shot and injured in the exchange has since been discharged from hospital; officials said a bulletproof vest “helped us avoid a potential tragedy.”
Allen was found to be carrying two firearms and multiple knives. The FBI’s criminal investigation and terrorism task force are leading the investigation. Attorney General Todd Blanche said preliminary findings indicate the suspect was “likely” targeting senior White House officials present at the event, though the full motive remains under investigation.
Senior officials in attendance included Vice-President JD Vance, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and top aide Stephen Miller. Video of Secret Service agents evacuating Vance from the ballroom, appearing moments before Trump was moved, circulated widely on social media.
A written document believed to be linked to Allen and described as a manifesto was reviewed by CBS News and other US outlets. According to reports, it expressed intent to target members of the Trump administration “from highest-ranking to lowest,” while stating that hotel guests and staff were not intended targets, though they would be harmed if necessary. BBC News has not independently verified the document. Allen’s brother reportedly contacted police in New London, Connecticut, after receiving it, and law enforcement there immediately notified federal authorities, though this occurred only hours after the shooting had already taken place.
Trump told Fox News on Sunday that the suspect “had a lot of hatred in his heart for a while,” and that his family was aware he had difficulties. He also said the suspect was “strongly anti-Christian.” US media have reported a history of anti-Trump social media posts linked to Allen, citing law enforcement sources.
During his 60 Minutes interview, Trump grew visibly frustrated when journalist Norah O’Donnell asked about the contents of the alleged writings, which contain a reference to a “pedophile, rapist, and traitor” without naming any individual. Trump called O’Donnell a “disgrace” for raising the excerpts and denied being any of those things.
White House Correspondents’ Association president Weijia Jiang, who was seated next to Trump at the dinner, described the incident as “harrowing.” On Sunday, she thanked the Secret Service for actions that “protected thousands of guests.” The event’s ballroom was briefly placed on lockdown before an announcement was made that it would be rescheduled, and attendees were escorted out.
Trump later addressed reporters from the White House while still in black tie attire. He praised the Secret Service and said everyone in the room owed them a “tremendous debt of gratitude.” Despite his well-documented tensions with the press, he also thanked journalists for their “responsible coverage” of the attack and called on people to “resolve our differences peacefully.”
The White House said in a statement on Sunday that Trump “stands fearless” after surviving “an assassination attempt when shots were fired.” Investigators believe Allen travelled to Washington by train, travelling from Los Angeles to Chicago before heading to the capital.
The president has since used the episode to advocate for a new ballroom at the White House, writing on Truth Social that the attack would not have happened “with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction.”
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