Suspect arrested for attempted attack at White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Acting American Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the suspect gunman who attempted to attack the White House Correspondents’ Dinner had “potentially” targeted President Donald Trump and his officials.

American media identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen, who was arrested by police after shots were fired near a security checkpoint at a hotel in Washington, D.C., where the event was held on Saturday.

Speaking to NBC News, Blanche mentioned that while the investigation into the suspect’s motives is ongoing, “preliminary” findings suggest he aimed to target administration officials. The FBI’s Criminal Division and the Terrorism Task Force are investigating the incident.

After being safely evacuated from the stage, Trump remarked during a briefing with journalists on Saturday, “I can’t imagine a profession more dangerous than this.”

In a statement released on Sunday, the White House noted that Trump remained “fearless” after escaping an “attempted assassination during the shooting” along with Cabinet members. White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang described the attack as “horrific.”

On Sunday, Jiang, who was seated next to Trump at the dinner, thanked the Secret Service for “ensuring the safety of thousands of guests.” She further clarified that a board meeting would be held to decide on the way forward, and more information would be released when available.

Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Trump said the suspect harbored “a lot of hatred for a long time” and that his family was aware of his “difficulties.” He also mentioned that the suspect had a “manifesto.”

Shots were heard around 20:35 local time (00:35 GMT) on Saturday in the foyer of the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was taking place in the ballroom on the lower floor.

The President, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice President JD Vance were also immediately evacuated from the room by security personnel. A video showing Secret Service agents hurriedly escorting Vice President JD Vance out just moments before Trump was evacuated went viral on social media, prompting some viewers to question the timing.

In an interview with the news program ’60 Minutes’ on Sunday, Trump said he did not make it “easy” for agents to evacuate him from the room. He stated, “I wanted to see what was happening… I wanted to understand what was going on. And by then, we started to realize that this might be a big problem.”

Trump mentioned that at one point, security personnel asked him to take cover and “please sit on the floor.” He praised his security team, calling them “great people.”