world 25 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Trump Describes White House Dinner Shooter as 'Pretty Evil' After Attack on Security
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania were safely evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Association dinner after a gunman fired a shotgun at Secret Service agents. The suspect, arrested at the scene, was called a 'sick person' who 'looked pretty evil' by Trump, with the targeted officer saved by his bulletproof vest. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/world/trump-says-shooter-looked-pretty-evil--5436544
President Donald Trump and his wife Melania were quickly escorted from the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026, following a shooting incident targeting security personnel.
A man armed with a shotgun opened fire at a Secret Service agent near the event’s entrance checkpoint, according to officials. The agent escaped serious injury thanks to his bulletproof vest and is reported to be in good condition.
The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, was swiftly apprehended by law enforcement. Trump, speaking to reporters later at the White House, labeled him a ‘sick person’ and noted he ‘looked pretty evil’ when subdued. He praised the Secret Service for their bravery in taking down the attacker, who charged from about 50 yards away.
CCTV footage shared by Trump showed the suspect sprinting through a security area before agents responded. Officials consider him a lone actor, with federal agents searching his California residence.
The chaos erupted at the Hilton hotel’s ballroom, attended by around 2,600 people including cabinet members like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Guests ducked for cover amid screams, while security pushed officials to the ground and evacuated Trump from the stage.
The gala was cancelled, though Trump expressed hope for rescheduling. This marks the latest threat against him, following two assassination attempts in 2024 during his campaign—one in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was grazed in the ear, and another at his Florida golf club.
The venue holds historical significance, as it was the site of the 1981 shooting of President Ronald Reagan.