The shooting occurred at the Washington Hilton ballroom, where Trump was attending the annual dinner for the first time since 2011. The president, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and members of the Cabinet were rushed off the stage by Secret Service as security agents moved to apprehend the shooter near a security checkpoint, according to multiple reports. The suspect carried a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives, and law enforcement exchanged fire with the gunman, the Washington Metropolitan Police Department said. A law enforcement officer was shot by what Trump later described as a 'lone wolf whack job' who tried to storm the room, but the officer was saved by a bulletproof vest and was in 'great shape,' according to the president. The FBI confirmed that the suspect was detained by law enforcement. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said the suspect is being charged with two counts of using a firearm and one count of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
Trump dismissed conspiracy theories that the shooting was staged, branding those who believe such claims as 'sick.' In an interview on CBS News' 60 Minutes, Trump initially said he had not heard about the online speculation. When pressed, he said, 'I think they're more sick than they are con people,' referring to conspiracy theorists. He described suggestions that Saturday's shooting was staged as a 'tough sell.' Baseless speculation about whether the shooting was staged blew up on social media shortly after the incident, with the term 'staged' featured in more than 300,000 posts on X by midday Sunday, according to TweetBinder.
I think they’re more sick than they are con people.
During the same 60 Minutes interview, Norah O'Donnell asked Trump about conspiracy theories surrounding the attempt on his life during a rally in Pennsylvania in 2024. Trump responded by reeling off conspiracy theories about other major world events, including false claims that the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 'didn't happen.' He added that some people believe 'World War II didn't happen and the Holocaust didn't happen, and many things didn't happen.'
Professor Cliff Lampe at the University of Michigan told The New York Times that people are not 'looking for good information.' According to The New York Times, Lampe described that 'people are reshaping reality based on what they want to be true or not. They're not looking for good information, they're looking for confirmatory information.' This phenomenon helps explain the rapid spread of conspiracy theories following high-profile events.
tough sell
Authorities are investigating the suspect's background. Allen describes himself as a game developer, engineer, scientist, and teacher in his LinkedIn profile. He received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Caltech in 2017 and a master's in computer science from Cal State Dominguez Hills in May 2025, according to his LinkedIn profile. FBI agents and Torrance Police have gathered outside a home in Torrance where the alleged gunman is believed to have lived, according to multiple reports. Authorities are waiting for a search warrant and will soon make an entry, law enforcement sources said. The Red Cross has set up an evacuation center at Carson Park for people unable to return to their homes due to police presence, according to multiple reports. According to www.latimes.com, Nancy Castles, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Red Cross, described that two houses were definitely evacuated. Torrance Mayor George Chen was on the scene at 11:30 pm Saturday, according to multiple reports.
In an unrelated development, President Donald Trump has endorsed Steve Hilton in the California gubernatorial race. The top two candidates in the June 2, 2026, primary will advance to the general election, according to multiple reports. Some Democratic candidates include Xavier Becera, Eric Swalwell, and Antonio Villaraigosa, according to multiple reports.
World War II didn’t happen and the Holocaust didn’t happen, and many things didn’t happen.
Several unknowns remain in the investigation. The motive behind the shooting has not been determined. It is unclear whether the law enforcement officer who was shot sustained any injuries beyond the bulletproof vest protection. Authorities have not disclosed how the suspect gained access to the area near the event. The specific charges the suspect will face are still pending formal filing. Investigators are also looking into whether any additional suspects or accomplices were involved.
People are reshaping reality based on what they want to be true or not. They’re not looking for good information, they’re looking for confirmatory information.
A law enforcement officer was shot by a 'lone wolf whack job' who tried to storm the room, but the officer was saved by a bulletproof vest and was in 'great shape.'
Two houses were definitely evacuated.