Shooting incident at White House correspondents' dinner

On April 26, 2026, a 31-year-old teacher named Cole Thomas Allen opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., where U.S. President Donald Trump and approximately 2,500 guests were in attendance. Allen, a resident of Torrance, California, allegedly traveled by train to Washington and entered the Hilton hotel as a registered guest. He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. A uniformed Secret Service officer was injured in the incident but was later discharged from the hospital. The suspect, who has no prior criminal record, was taken into custody after the shooting and is expected to face federal charges for attacking a federal agent. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that preliminary investigations suggest Allen targeted government officials, though his exact motives remain under investigation. Reports indicate the suspect donated to Kamala Harris's campaign in 2024. Authorities confirmed he acted alone and there is no wider threat to the public.