White House Correspondents’ Dinner Attack – What We Know So Far

Shortly after the White House Correspondents’ Dinner began at 8 p.m. Eastern, a lone gunman charged the event and was apprehended before making it to the ballroom. What seemed like chaos ensued and, though the situation was resolved in mere moments, confusion lingered. Conflicting reports flew across social media, some indicating the shooter was dead, others saying he was apprehended – and at least some who seemed to think there were two gunmen. The lone assailant exchanged gunshots with the Secret Service, but the only person to be hit was an agent wearing a ballistic vest – he was taken to the hospital as a precaution but was later released.

As the dust settles, so to speak, and the sun rises on a new day, more answers are finally forthcoming. Some things, however, we may never know.

Correspondents’ Dinner Interrupted – To Be Continued

This year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner was the first to be attended by Donald Trump while in office. Appetizers had reportedly just been served a little after 8:30 p.m. Eastern, when a small commotion interrupted the event. The noise, as it turned out, was gunfire in the lobby. Secret Service agents rushed to surround and evacuate their protectees while other guests dropped to the floor.

A room full of media personalities quickly jumped online to post their experience and assumptions – some of which turned out to be incorrect – of the event. As things settled down a bit and more information came to light, a new and more complete picture began to emerge: Cole Thomas Allen of Torrance, California, age 31, rushed the Secret Service security checkpoint with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives.

In a matter of moments, he was on the ground and under arrest. Authorities eventually announced that Allen was in custody and had not been shot. By 9 p.m., it was announced that the dinner would resume. President Trump, however, did not return. Shortly thereafter, the event was scrapped for the night.

“The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we ‘LET THE SHOW GO ON’ but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement,” the president posted on Truth Social. “Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do, immediately,” Trump explained shortly after.

At a press conference from the White House upon his return, the president said he had spoken to the representatives in charge of the dinner and that the event would be rescheduled within 30 days. “There was a lot of action taking place up there very quickly,” he said at the press conference. “But, again, the response time was really incredible and we’re going to reschedule. We’re going to do it again. We’re not going to let anybody take over our society. We’re not going to cancel things out, because we can’t do that.”

From his initial comments to his answers to questions from the press, President Trump made his outlook clear: As president, he has a job to do that’s often very public and potentially dangerous. But he has to do it – so he can’t afford to worry about it.

The Who, But Still No Why

Mr. Allen’s residence was described as a modest, two-story tract home in the Los Angeles suburb with two Hondas parked outside. Officials reported early Sunday morning that Allen had no criminal record and was not on the radar of law enforcement.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Allen graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and from CSU Dominguez Hills in 2025 with a masters in computer science. He worked as an independent video game developer and part-time teacher at a company that helps high schoolers get into college. NBC News reported that a former high school volleyball teammate described Allen as a “borderline genius” and “super stable.”

It seems Allen had a room at the Washington Hilton, the venue of the dinner and his attack, as well. Law enforcement plan to search both locations in hopes of turning up some hint of a motive – or, on the off chance that he wasn’t acting alone as officials believe he was – uncovering evidence to expose anyone else involved. More information will almost certainly come to light as the investigation continues. But the bigger question of “why” may never be answered short of the discovery of a manifesto or a confession with explanation.

Allen is being charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence as well as one count of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, US Attorney for Washington, DC, Jeanine Pirro announced - though she added that more charges could follow. He will be arraigned on Monday in federal court.