On Saturday night, a gunman opened fire outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Inside the ballroom, Trump was rushed off stage. The video showed him stumble as agents moved him out.
The suspect, later identified as Cole Allen of Torrance, California, had charged the security screening area outside the Washington Hilton armed with multiple weapons. One Secret Service officer was shot but survived, saved by his vest.
CNN’s Wolf Blitzer was feet away from the gunman as he opened fire. “All of a sudden a guy with a weapon, it was a very, very serious weapon, starts shooting, and I happened to have been a few feet away from him as he was shooting,” Blitzer said on air. Fox News anchor Bret Baier, also in the room, confirmed hearing shots from outside the ballroom. Hundreds of guests dove under tables.
The video of Trump’s exit circulated within minutes. Flanked by agents moving at speed, he loses his footing briefly before regaining it.
Trump falls down while being escorted out of dinner pic.twitter.com/KHtjWfbSRd
— Phil Braun (@playazball) April 26, 2026
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He later told reporters he “fought like hell” to stay. Law enforcement gave him no choice. He was taken to a secure location inside the hotel before being transferred back to the White House, where he held a press conference shortly after.
At the briefing room podium, Trump described the suspect as a “very sick person” and a “thug” who had attacked the US Constitution. Asked whether he believed he was the intended target, he said: “I guess.” He had already posted surveillance footage of the shooting on Truth Social before the press conference began.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro confirmed Allen would be charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on federal officers. He was scheduled to be arraigned Monday. FBI director Kash Patel said investigators had begun examining his background and asked the public to come forward with relevant information.
Beyond Washington, the reaction turned global.
Leaders including Narendra Modi, Sanae Takaichi, and Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the attack and expressed relief that Trump was unharmed. “Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned,” Modi wrote on X.
Relieved to learn that President Trump, the First Lady and Vice President are safe and unharmed following the recent security incident at a Washington DC hotel. I extend my best wishes for their continued safety and well-being. Violence has no place in a democracy and must be…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2026
Featured image via X screengrab
