Washington, D.C. — A high-profile security breach disrupted the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on April 25, 2026, at the Washington Hilton, forcing the rapid evacuation of President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and dozens of top officials and journalists.
The incident unfolded roughly 20 minutes after the presidential couple made their formal entrance into the ballroom. A gunman, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, rushed a security checkpoint in the hotel lobby and advanced aggressively toward the main event space. Armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives, Allen was quickly subdued by Secret Service agents, who pinned him to the floor before he could reach the ballroom.
