world 26 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
US Official Confirms Trump Likely Targeted in Shooting at White House Correspondents' Dinner
A suspect fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent outside the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stating that President Trump and administration officials were probable targets. The assailant was quickly apprehended, and Trump, along with others, emerged unharmed amid global condemnation. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/world/trump-was-likely-target-of-shooting-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-says-us-official-5437162
A dramatic shooting disrupted the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton hotel on April 25, 2026. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania were swiftly evacuated after a man opened fire with a shotgun on a security agent at a checkpoint.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche revealed on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ that the suspect appeared to target administration figures, including the president. The individual, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California, was tackled and arrested after passing two checkpoints. He faces federal charges including assault on a federal officer and attempted murder.
The Secret Service agent, protected by a bulletproof vest, was treated and released from hospital. Trump addressed reporters at the White House, confirming the officer’s good condition and describing the attacker as a ‘lone wolf’ who charged from 50 yards away. Officials noted Allen traveled by train from Los Angeles and was possibly a hotel guest armed with additional weapons.
The incident, occurring amid heavy security for the black-tie event attended by cabinet members, echoed past threats. Trump has survived two prior assassination attempts since 2024—one in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was grazed by a bullet, and another at his Florida golf club. Global leaders, including NATO’s Mark Rutte, condemned the violence, emphasizing its threat to democratic societies.
Video footage captured chaos in the ballroom, with guests diving under tables as security stormed in. The gala was canceled, marking Trump’s first attendance as president after previous boycotts. The Washington Hilton previously hosted the 1981 attempt on Ronald Reagan.
Investigators are probing how the shotgun was smuggled in, raising security concerns for high-profile gatherings.