Trump: Suspect in custody after shooting at Correspondents' Dinner
April 25 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump returned to the White House after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, D.C. and a suspect is in custody.
There was a shooting incident near the main security screening area at the Washington Hilton, with one person in custody as law enforcement assesses the situation, Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the U.S. Secret Service, said in a statement.
All protectees, Guglielmi said, are safe, including the president, first lady and members of the Cabinet who were at the dinner.
At a press briefing after returning to the White House, Trump said he believed that this was a "lone wolf" attack as he praised the response of Secret Service and law enforcement after recognizing the threat.
Trump said there was no indication of a motive, political or otherwise, but that "we'll find out very quickly" about this "very sick person."
The FBI had earlier confirmed in a statement that the suspect is in custody and was taken to the hospital.
The suspect has been taken to the hospital, as has a Secret Service agent who was injured, The Washington Post reported.
Washington, D.C., law enforcement said that a man -- Cole Thomas Allen, 31, of Torrence, Calif. -- rushed the ballroom doors with a shotgun.
Dinner was being served at the annual gathering of the Washington press organization when shots could be heard from the ballroom, causing many in the room to freeze.
President Trump, Melania Trump and other members of the administration on the dais and in the ballroom were evacuated within minutes of shots being heard over C-SPAN and other networks broadcasts.
As the officials were cleared from the room, Secret Service agents swarmed it and ordered other guests to stay in their seats.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he wanted to return to the dinner and for the "SHOW TO GO ON," but security insisted that they leave the hotel and return to the White House.
Most of the other guests remained in the ballroom after organizers made an announcement that the show would continue shortly.
There was also speculation whether Trump would return to the dinner after the announcement the show would continue and the Presidential Seal was not immediately removed from the podium on the dais.
"Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do immediately," Trump posted about an hour after the incident.
"The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition," Trump posted. "I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days."
An announcement in the ballroom mirrored Trump's announcement about rescheduling the dinner for next month.
C-SPAN reported that waiters started to clear the salad portion of dinner as guests started to open wine while waiting for more information about the situation before the announcement that the dinner is going to be rescheduled.
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This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 7:56 PM.