Gunman Breaks Into White House Correspondents’ Dinner; Trump Escorted Out, First Lady Crawls to Safety Amid Stand-Down

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed to safety by Secret Service agents on Saturday night, April 25, 2026, after an armed man stormed the lobby of the Washington Hilton during a high-profile journalists’ dinner.

The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, rushed toward the ballroom armed with guns and knives before agents subdued him.

Guests ducked under tables as some reported hearing shots. The First Lady and others crawled on the floor to escape during the stand-down. A law enforcement officer was hit in his bullet-resistant vest but is expected to recover.

Trump, who was uninjured, later called the gunman a “sick person” and “lone wolf” while addressing reporters at the White House in his tuxedo. “When you’re impactful, they go after you,” he said.

The incident marks the third time since 2024 that the president has faced a direct threat. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said charges will be filed shortly. The FBI is examining a long gun and shell casings from the scene.

The annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner was scrapped for the night and will be rescheduled. Attendees included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other senior officials.

(Additional information from an Associated Press report)