President Donald Trump said “I guess” when asked whether he was the intended target of the man who rushed a security checkpoint during the White House Correspondents’ Association annual dinner, an incident that forced the evacuation of the high-profile gala and put Washington security on edge.
The suspect has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from Torrance, California, according to US media reports cited by local authorities. Police say Allen was a guest at the hotel where the dinner was being held and is now in custody.
What happened at the dinner
The incident unfolded late Saturday night at the Washington Hilton, moments before Trump was due to speak. Law enforcement officials said the armed suspect ran toward the ballroom where the president and hundreds of journalists, officials and celebrities were gathered. Officers stopped him at a security checkpoint after shots were fired.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance were uninjured, and officials said there were no civilian injuries reported. The event was immediately evacuated.
How the suspect got inside
Interim Metropolitan Police Department Chief Jeffery W. Carroll said investigators are reviewing surveillance footage from throughout the hotel to determine how the suspect managed to get so close to the secured area while armed with a high-caliber weapon.
“At this point, we don’t have that level of detail,” Carroll said when asked how the gun entered the venue.
Authorities confirmed the suspect’s hotel room has been secured as part of the investigation. Carroll emphasized that the presence of shots fired does not automatically mean security failed.
“The checkpoint was there for a reason, and it worked,” he said, noting that the suspect was apprehended at that location.
Motive still unknown
Police said the "suspect’s motive remains unknown". Carroll told reporters that Allen was "not previously known to the Metropolitan Police Department" and that there is currently no indication that anyone else is at risk.
While officials said there is no specific threat tied to related events around the US capital, Carroll confirmed there are additional officers deployed for post-dinner gatherings and after-parties.
Charges and court proceedings
Law enforcement responds during an incident at the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. AP
According to Jeanine Pirro, the US Attorney for Washington, the suspect is facing two federal counts: Using a firearm during a crime of violence; Assault on federal officers with a dangerous weapon
Pirro said Allen will be arraigned in federal court on Monday.
Washington, DC’s mayor confirmed that the suspect was receiving treatment at a nearby hospital and remains under police custody.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the suspect would be formally charged “very soon.”
CCTV footage released by Trump
Moments before addressing reporters at the White House, Trump shared CCTV footage on social media that appeared to show the suspect running past metal detectors as security agents drew their weapons. Trump also posted photos showing a shirtless man lying on the hotel floor with his hands behind his back, believed to be the suspected shooter.
Trump responds
When asked directly whether he believed he was the intended target, Trump replied, “I guess,” declining to speculate further as the investigation continues.
Authorities say they are still piecing together the full sequence of events and reviewing video evidence to determine exactly how the incident unfolded.