The White House Correspondents' Association dinner at the Washington Hilton was disrupted on April 25, 2026, when a gunman opened fire. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were evacuated by Secret Service agents, according to multiple reports. The event was highly protected, with the head of the FBI present, as noted by a social media user. No protectees were harmed, and President Trump later described the shooter as a 'lone wolf' and confirmed that all protectees were safe. He added that more details about the shooter's identity and motive would be forthcoming.
The suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, according to multiple sources. Interim police chief Jeffery Carroll stated that Allen was a guest at the Washington Hilton and was armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives. Allen faces preliminary charges of using a firearm and assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, with more charges expected, according to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and acting attorney general Todd Blanche. He will be arraigned on Monday in federal district court, Pirro said.
I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!
One officer was shot but protected by his bulletproof vest and taken to hospital, according to multiple reports. The suspect was not struck by gunfire and was taken to hospital for evaluation, Carroll said. Investigators believe the suspect was working alone and there is no further danger to the public, Carroll added. The White House Correspondents' Dinner has been postponed and will be rescheduled within 30 days, according to multiple reports.
Despite the shooting, King Charles III's state visit to the United States is proceeding as planned. The visit is scheduled to begin on Monday, according to multiple reports. The shooting has raised concerns about the safety of the royal visit, but no official changes have been announced. The chief secretary to Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that teams are working closely to ensure security arrangements are appropriately in place for the King.
You know what? I’m going to treat you to a state dinner, you can come to the US, and I’m not going to drag you around the Lincoln Memorial. You can just have dinner and then go to bed.
President Trump confirmed the royal visit details and expressed enthusiasm. He said he looks forward to spending time with the King, whom he greatly respects, calling it 'TERRIFIC!' The president also joked about treating the King to a state dinner without dragging him around the Lincoln Memorial. Trump has promised them 'a beautiful banquet dinner' and revealed the 'historic state visit' will take place over four days from April 27-30.
The King and Queen are due to visit the US for a state visit at the end of April. The transatlantic trip will be subject to the King being well enough, with the 77-year-old head of state currently undergoing treatment for cancer. Charles was last in Washington, DC, for the funeral of former President George H.W. Bush. He is expected to be joined by his wife, Queen Camilla, for the landmark visit. Charles has made more than a dozen overseas trips since becoming King, including state visits to France, Italy and Kenya.
The shooter was a 'lone wolf' and all protectees were safe.
More details about the shooter's identity and motive would be forthcoming.