Shortly after 8:15 p.m. ET on July 25, as President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania entered the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., gunfire erupted. Secret Service agents rushed in, shouting “shots fired,” and escorted the couple out. Trump later said he thought the noise was a dropped plate — “it was loud, but far away.” The dinner was suspended; guests evacuated under law enforcement orders.
Gunman Identified: Caltech Alum, Assembled Rifle in Hotel Room
Authorities named the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Caltech and an M.S. in Computer Science from California State University. Allen assembled a long gun in an unattended hotel room near the venue, then charged a security checkpoint with multiple weapons, including a firearm and knives. At least 10 shots were fired. A Secret Service agent was struck multiple times but survived because of a bulletproof vest; he was hospitalized. Trump posted on Truth Social praising the “fast and brave” response of D.C. law enforcement, confirming the gunman was in custody.
Trump News Conference: 'The Most Influential People Get Assassinated'
Back at the White House, Trump held a press conference, releasing the suspect’s photo and calling him “evil-looking,” describing the attack as a lone-wolf operation. Asked why he faces repeated assassination threats, Trump replied: “I’ve studied assassinations — the most influential people who do the most get this.” Citing Abraham Lincoln, he added, “Just check the names of those who were assassinated.” In a rare self-deprecating note, Trump joked, “Nobody told me being president was this dangerous. If Secretary Rubio had told me, I wouldn’t have run.” This marks the third assassination-related incident during Trump’s term. The White House Correspondents’ Association said the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days.