A high-profile Washington evening was abruptly halted on April 25, 2026, when a security incident unfolded near the ballroom hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton.
President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, senior administration officials, journalists, and invited guests were inside the venue when an armed individual, identified by authorities as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, attempted to get through a security checkpoint near the ballroom.
How the Incident Unfolded
According to law enforcement officials, gunfire was exchanged during the confrontation. One Secret Service agent was struck, but officials said the agent survived because of a ballistic vest.
Security teams quickly moved President Trump and other government leaders out of the ballroom and transported them to safety. Trump was not injured.
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