WASHINGTON — A gunman sprinted through security and fired shots outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, prompting the Secret Service to evacuate President Donald Trump and other United States leaders from the event. The shooting suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. Police said they "exchanged gunfire" with the suspect, but he was not hit. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the suspect was in the hospital, but did not provide a status. During a press conference back at the White House, the president identified the gunman as a man from California, who had been "captured." He said officials believe the man acted as a "lone wolf." Interim Chief of Police of the Metropolitan Police Department Jeffery W. Carroll said Allen was armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives. He said preliminary evidence shows the suspect was a guest at the hotel where the dinner was being held. "The president and the first lady are safe along all protectees," Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi wrote in a statement. "Law enforcement is actively assessing the situation." A law enforcement officer took a shot to the vest and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Weijia Jiang, White House Correspondents' Association President, confirmed there were no injuries after the incident. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. outside the same hotel — an event that prompted redesigns of the property that increased security and added a special presidential suite near the entrance where chief executives could be taken. First Lady Melania Trump rebuked Disney-owned ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel following his Jimmy Kimmel Live! monologue in which he said Mrs. Trump has “a glow like an expectant widow,” calling Kimmel a “coward,” describing his rhetoric as divisive, and pressing ABC to take action. Writing on X from the official First Lady account, Melania Trump said: “Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn’t comedy — his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America.” “People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate,” Mrs. Trump said. “A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him.” Directing her remark at ABC parent company Disney, Mrs. Trump “Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community,” Kimmel’s recent comments follow prior backlash tied to his on-air remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination. In September 2025, he said that Republicans and others were “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,” referring to the “MAGA gang,” a characterization disputed by officials and case details indicating a left-leaning ideology. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) is calling on Democrats to “stop playing politics” and fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Secret Service after the third assassination attempt on President Donald Trump. “When will the DEMOCRATS stop playing politics and speak out against assassination attempts on our PRESIDENT? Enough is enough,” Scott said in a post to X on Sunday, the morning after a suspected shooter tried to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner to attack President Trump and administration officials. “This week, the Senate should put Democrats on record again and see how they vote. Will they decide now is a good time to finally fund Secret Service and all of DHS? Even after last night’s violence and ANOTHER assassination attempt against the President of the United States this shouldn’t be such a fight to get done,” the senator continued. “Democrats have REFUSED to pay Secret Service agents for over 70 DAYS. The very agents that put their lives on the line to protect others and keep our nation safe. The Democrats need to give up this RIDICULOUS political stunt and FULLY FUND DHS,” Scott concluded. 
31-year-old gunman was armed with multiple weapons at White House Correspondents' Dinner:
Melania Trump: ‘Coward’ Jimmy Kimmel ‘Deepens the Political Sickness Within America,’ Calls on ABC to ‘Take a Stand’
Sen. Rick Scott Calls on Democrats to ‘Stop Playing Politics,’ Fund Secret Service After Trump Assassination Attempt: