US President Donald Trump was reported safe while other senior White House officials were evacuated from the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner after a man allegedly armed with guns and knives entered the lobby and opened fire.
The shooting was the latest example of political violence plaguing the nation, including the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol and the Pennsylvania governor’s residence, which was set on fire. Trump has been the subject of previous assassination attempts, including at a rally in Pennsylvania in 2024 when a bullet severed his ear.
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Authorities have yet to determine a motive, and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said charges related to the attack will be filed soon.
Here’s what Trump said
Trump later said at a White House press conference that he had “studied assassinations” and that the “most effective people” are those who tend to be targeted. “I hate to say I’m honored by it, but I’ve done a lot,” he added.
Trump said Saturday’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner would not deter him from the Iran war, although he believes the incident is unlikely to be related to the conflict.
“It’s not going to deter me from winning the Iran war. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, I really don’t think so, based on what we know,” Trump told reporters at a White House briefing after the shocking security incident.
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But Trump has previously said “you never know” if it could be related to the Iran war, and said investigators were working on a motive for the shooter, who he described as a “lone wolf.”
Earlier on Saturday, the US leader canceled his envoys’ trip to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran after he was unimpressed with Tehran’s negotiating position after nearly two months of war.
Trump Says ‘I Can’t Worry’
Trump said, “I can’t worry. I can only get great people to do the job. In my opinion, they (law enforcement officials) did a much better job than they did at Butler. Butler had one weak point that we all know. Somebody should have been there. . . . We lost one great person and two people were very badly hurt. . . .”
Trump said: “We are not the only country. Look at the great violence in all countries. I spoke to someone today from another country and they have numerous assassinations of political figures around the world… we lead the world in trade and military; we are the largest military in the world… for example, we cannot allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon. Everything will be peanuts if they get that nuclear weapon.”
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He added: “They would use it; Marco and I talked about it today. They would use it without hesitation. We can’t do that… It shouldn’t have happened during my tenure. It wasn’t achievable. We did it in one year. And I said, ‘We’re going to have to take a trip to Iran.’ They will have a nuclear weapon if we don’t. We had them take out the B-2 bombers… when you do things like that, you become a target. If I didn’t, I’d probably be a lot less of a target. But I’m honored to be.”
Who is the alleged shooter? Educated Private Tutor
Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said Saturday that the suspect is charged with using a firearm in a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
The alleged shooter — identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, Calif. — was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and is expected to be arraigned Monday, authorities said. The Secret Service agent was shot, but the bullet grazed his bulletproof vest and the officer “is going to be fine,” Pirro said.
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I hate to say I’m honored by it, but I’ve done a lot.
Social media posts that appear to be associated with Cole Tomas Allen describe him as an educated private tutor and a fan of the video game developer.
A May 2025 LinkedIn profile photo of Allen, 31, of Torrance, Calif., appears to match images of the suspect taken into custody and shared by Trump on Saturday night. He is shown in profile in a graduation cap and gown after completing a master’s degree in computer science at California State University, Dominguez Hills, the AP reported.
Previously, Allen reportedly earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2017 from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Among his listed activities were participation in the Christian Student Fellowship and membership in a campus group known for organizing Nerf shootouts.
Read also | Trump says suspect in custody, officer shot but ‘doing great’
According to his online resume, Allen’s spent the past six years at C2 Education, a company that offers admissions counseling and test preparation services to beginning college students. A 2024 post on the company’s Facebook page named Allen as the company’s Teacher of the Month. The company did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday night.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. outside the Hilton Hotel, an incident that led to major security changes at the property, including a redesign and addition of a dedicated presidential suite near the entrance to provide faster protection for visiting presidents.
(With input from agencies)
Key things
- Political violence remains a significant problem in the US, as evidenced by recent incidents.
- Leaders often feel a sense of responsibility and honor when they are targeted and see it as a reflection of their influence.
- Security protocols may require re-evaluation following incidents at major events.
