President Donald Trump was evacuated from the Washington Hilton hotel, where journalists and celebrities were gathered for the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner in the nation’s capital.
US president says gunman armed with multiple weapons was taken down by “some very brave members” of the Secret Service
One Secret Service officer was shot from very close range, but was saved by his bullet-proof vest, Trump says at White House
The president has shared a picture of the alleged shooting suspect and footage of what appears to be the start of the shooting – watch it now
The suspect has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, US media report – he will be formally charged in court on Monday
Attendees of the dinner ducked under tables amid scenes of widespread confusion, our Washington correspondent reports from the event
We all crawled under our table for what felt like a long time, writes a BBC journalist at the dinner
0:16
Watch: Trump posts footage of would-be shooter running past security. 00:00:16, play video
Watch: Trump posts footage of would-be shooter running past security
Surveillance video of shooter at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
0:33
Trump: ‘I fought like hell to stay’ at dinner. 00:00:33, play video
Trump: ‘I fought like hell to stay’ at dinner
Trump in tuxedo at podium
0:27
Moment Secret Service agents rush Trump from stage. 00:00:27, play video
Moment Secret Service agents rush Trump from stage
Trump sitting at head table before being escorted out
1:06
Tom Bateman recounts scenes in room after suspected gunshots. 00:01:06, play video
Tom Bateman recounts scenes in room after suspected gunshots
Tom Bateman in a black suit and white shirt
1:05
Trump on why he thinks he’s been targeted by would-be assassins. 00:01:05, play video
Trump on why he thinks he’s been targeted by would-be assassins
Trump in tuxedo at podium looking to left
1:00
Dinner to be rescheduled says White House Correspondents’ Association president. 00:01:00, play video
Dinner to be rescheduled says White House Correspondents’ Association president
WHCA president at podium
0:55
‘High drama’ in the room at the correspondents’ dinner. 00:00:55, play video
‘High drama’ in the room at the correspondents’ dinner
Washington correspondent Dan Bush in tuxedo
0:17
Trump, attendees take cover after suspected gunshots. 00:00:17, play video
Trump, attendees take cover after suspected gunshots
Security escorts Trump away from table
Live Reporting
Edited by Caitlin Wilson and Chris Graham, with reporting from BBC journalists at the dinner
Photos from inside the now-canceled White House correspondents dinner
published at 06:05
06:05
Indrani Basu
BBC News, Washington
I was inside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton hotel a few hours ago.
Here’s what the event looked like before we were evacuated after gunshots were heard.
Attendees standing and discussing after the dinner was canceled
Image source,Indrani Basu / BBC News
Attendees standing and discussing after the dinner was canceled
Image source,Indrani Basu / BBC News
Attendees standing and discussing after the dinner was canceled
Image source,Indrani Basu / BBC News
Share
Trump thanks White House Correspondents Association
published at 06:02
06:02
Morgan Gisholt Minard
BBC News, reporting from the White House
While he was speaking to reporters in the White House briefing room a bit ago, President Trump directed a personal thank you to Weijia Jiang – who was sitting in the front row asking questions and is president of the White House Correspondents Association, which puts on this event every year.
The hundred or so press in the room gave a quick round of applause. Mr Trump then joked she was going to give a “killer question”.
Trump answers questions
Image source,Getty Images
Share
Today’s shooting at same location as 1981 attempt on Reagan’s life
published at 05:51
05:51
Exterior of Washington Hilton after the Reagan shooting
Image source,Getty Images
Image caption,
Three people were wounded during the 1981 attempt on Ronald Reagan’s life.
Today’s shooting incident took place at the Washington Hilton on Connecticut Avenue – the same hotel in which Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded in 1981.
That shooting took place on 30 March 1981, when the culprit, John Hinckley Jr, shot at Reagan as he was returning to his limousine after a speaking engagement inside the hotel.
Reagan survived, but was seriously wounded by a bullet that ricocheted off the side of a presidential limousine and hit him in the torso, breaking a rib and puncturing one of his lungs. He was rushed to the nearby George Washington University Hospital, and was eventually released on 11 April.
The then-White House Press Secretary, James Brady, was wounded in the same incident, as was a Secret Service agent and a local Metropolitan Police Department officer.
Brady suffered brain damage during he incident and was left disabled for the rest of his life. His injuries plagued him for the rest of his life and contributed to his death in 2014.
The following year, Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity, but was confined to a high-security portion of Washington’s St Elizabeth’s Hospital until being discharged in 2016.
A plaque still marks the scene of the shooting on the side of the hotel.
Share
Can’t imagine ‘any profession that’s more dangerous’, Trump says of his job
published at 05:50
05:50
Bernd Debusmann Jr
White House reporter
Donald Trump
Image source,Getty Images
This is the third shooting or attempted shooting that has taken place around Donald Trump in just the last few years. It’s become something of a pattern.
I was also in Butler, Pennsylvania on 13 July 2024 when 20-year-old Thomas Crooks shot at Trump, and the feeling in Washington is very similar to what I experienced that day.
Despite having just experienced another shooting, Trump seems in a buoyant mood.
But the prospect of being in a position in which he could be in danger appears to be something that Donald Trump has thought about, repeatedly.
“I can’t imagine there’s any profession that’s more dangerous,” Trump said in the briefing room.
Trump, and many close to him, have previously said that the shooting in Butler, perhaps more than anything else, marked a pivotal moment for the US president.
Even with a lack of clarity on what led to the shooting, tonight’s events will almost certainly mark another one.
President Trump’s comments that the job is inherently dangerous are apt. Tonight’s incident took place inside the same hotel in which President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.
Share
No country is immune from political violence, says Trump
published at 05:48
05:48
The local law enforcement briefing has now wrapped up.
We will bring you a few more details from President Trump’s conference with reporters at the White House this evening.
Trump was asked what his message to the world was following the suspected shooting.
“You can have the greatest security in the world but if you’ve got a whack job whose brain is distorted, they can make trouble,” he replied.
When asked “if it’s possible to turn the temperature down” following this evening’s incident.
“Probably, if I decided to just not do much and if I let everybody rip us off,” he said.
The president says it is the cost of doing business to participate in politics in America.
He adds that there is political violence all over the world.
“I can’t imagine that there’s any profession that’s more dangerous,” he says, adding “no country is immune”.
Share
Can the WH correspondents dinner go ahead again?
published at 05:38
05:38
From left to right: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Melania Trump, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Weijia Jiang, President of the White House Correspondents Association
Image source,Getty Images
Image caption,
The scene before gunfire outside the room disrupted the event
President Trump has insisted the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) event will go ahead within 30 days and that the alleged shooting would not disrupt regular planned events.
Guests had finished their first course when the gunshots could be heard outside the Washington Hilton ball room.
When asked how the event could return after the disruption, the US security service director Sean Curran told reporters “we do this every day” when assessing security threats at events attended by the president and cabinet members.
Share
Security officer in hospital after stopping the alleged gunman
published at 05:36
05:36
Authorities have confirmed that one of the shots fired hit a uniformed officer who was wearing body armour.
The US secret service agent is in hospital and receiving treatment for his injuries.
The alleged gunman, a 31-year-old man from California, is also being examined in a local hospital.
Share
Authorities checking videos to see how the suspect got so close
published at 05:35
05:35
Carroll is asked how the suspect got so far into the venue with a high-caliber weapon.
Carroll says the investigation will go through video footage from across the hotel to determine how the gun got in.
“At this point, we don’t have that level of detail,” he says.
Share
Suspect was a hotel guest, DC police chief says
published at 05:34
05:34
DC police chief Jeff Carroll speaks behind a podium. To the right is DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and to the left is Jeanine Pirro, US Attorney for the District of Columbia
Image source,Reuters
Image caption,
Jeffrey Carroll, Interim Chief of Police, Metropolitan Police Department
The supect has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, US media report.
Washington DC’s police chief Jeffery W Carroll says he was a hotel guest where the event was taking place and his room has been secured as part of the investigation.
He is asked if there are any security changes to related events around the US capital that typically follow the White House Correspondents Dinner. He says there is no reason to believe anyone else is in danger but there are extra officers out and about tonight for events such as after-parties.
Share
Suspect’s motive remains known, say police
published at 05:25
05:25
Jeffery Carroll, the Interim Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, is asked what the suspect’s motivation was, and he answers that that is not yet known.
He says the fact that shots were fired does not mean this was a security failure.
The checkpoint, where the suspect was apprehended, was there for a reason and it worked, Carroll says.
The suspect was not previously known to the MPD, he adds.
Share
Suspect will be formally charged in court on Monday, say officials
published at 05:24
05:24
Breaking
Jeanine Pirro United States Attorney for the District of Columbia speaks behind news microphones
Image source,Reuters
Image caption,
Jeanine Pirro, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia
We have some more information about the suspect from local authorities.
Jeanine Pirro, US attorney for Washington, says the suspect is facing two counts for using firearm during crime of violence and assault on federal officers using dangerous weapon.
She says the suspect will be arraigned before a federal court on Monday.
Share
Alleged gunman was 31-year-old California man
published at 05:23
05:23
A few details are emerging about the alleged armed suspect, who was seen running towards the ballroom at the Washington Hilton before officers stopped him.
The BBC’s US partner, CBS News, reports that the suspect is believed to be a 31-year-old man from Torrence, based in Los Angeles’ south-western suburbs in California.
Washington DC mayor said the suspect was receiving treatment in a nearby hospital and remains in police custody.
Todd Blanche, Trump’s Attorney General, said that he would be charged “very soon”.
Photo of the suspect lying flat on the ground, surrounded by security officers, with his hands cuffed behind his back
Image source,@realDonald Trump/ Truth Social
Image caption,
Trump shared this photo appearing to show the suspect.
Share
Secret Service boss commends his agents
published at 05:18
05:18
The Director of the Secret Service, Sean Curran, commends his agents actions tonight.
“We saw exactly what our brave men and women do each and every day to protect our protectees. It’s not easy, and I will tell you that they performed admirably.”
It’s very fortunate that the officer who was shot is alive, and he’s being observed, Curran says.
He thanks Trump for reaching out to him, and says the Secret Service will continue its mission.
Share
Suspect was carrying multiple guns, and knives, says police chief
published at 05:17
05:17
Jeffery W. Carroll, interim chief of for the Metropolitan Police Department, says the suspect has multiple weapons.
“He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives,” he says.
He says the Secret Service agent who was injured was sent to a local hospital and he is in “good spirits”.
The suspect was not struck by gunfire, Carol says, and that it appears the suspect is a lone gunman. He says there is no danger to the public at this time.
Share
DC Mayor says suspect in hospital
published at 05:15
05:15
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser gives an update to reporters
Image source,Reuters
Image caption,
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser
President Trump’s briefing has ended but we will continue to bring a few more of his comments from the White House podium.
Meanwhile, we are tuning into a press conference with local authorities which has just begun.
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser says the agent who was shot is being treated at hospital, and the suspect is also in hospital being evaluated.
She says she’s thankful to law enforcement, and all guests are safe.
There’s no reason to believe anyone else was involved, she adds.
Share
Trump shares suspect photo and CCTV
published at 05:13
05:13
Moments before addressing the media in the press briefing room, Trump shared CCTV footage appearing to show the suspect running into the hotel ballroom.
The man runs past the security metal detectors as security agents draw their guns.
Trump also shared two photos appearing to show a shirtless man on the foyer floor with his hands behind his back, believed to be the suspected shooter.
First lady makes rare briefing room appearance
published at 05:12
05:12
Morgan Gisholt Minard
BBC News, reporting from White House
It’s very unusual to see the first lady in the briefing room. This marks the first of the three known shooting incidents at events attended by the president where the First Lady was also present.
The president said she knew “right away” what was going on.
Share
‘I was hoping it was a tray, but it wasn’t’
published at 05:11
05:11
Trump is asked how this event will impact him as a leader.
“I like not to think about it,” Trump answers. “I lead a pretty normal life considering, you know, it’s a dangerous life. I think I handle it as well as it can be handled.”
He says you read stories of this happening to other people and they “become basket cases”.
“To be honest, I’m not a basket case. Really I take it as it is. I do it for the country. I’m not doing it for any other reason.”
The First Lady recognizes the danger of the job, and it’s dangerous for her too, Trump says.
At first he wasn’t sure if the sound was a tray being dropped or a bullet, he adds.
“I was hoping it was a tray, but it wasn’t.”
Share
Being the president mans you ‘have to take risks’, says Trump
published at 05:09
05:09
Trump says he’s concerned about “all violence”, not exclusively politically-motivated attacks.
He compares the dangers of professions of presidents to others including race-car driving and bull riding, noting around 5.8% of US presidents have been shot at.
“I can’t imagine there are many professions that are more dangerous” than the president, he said, saying being commander-in-chief means you “have to take risks”.
Nodding towards Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he says “if Marco had told me then maybe I wouldn’t have run for president”.
Rubio was a candidate in the Republican primaries for the 2016 presidential race and ultimately bowed out when Trump secured the party’s nomination.
Share
Trump believes attacker acted alone: ‘A lone wolf whack job’
published at 05:06
05:06
Trump speaks in briefing room
Image source,Getty Images
Trump is asked if he or authorities are sure that the suspect was a lone actor.
Trump says it’s not his profession to know the answer, but there’s great professionals in the room and outside working the case.
“My impression is he was a lone wolf whack job,” Trump says of the suspect. “These are crazy people. These are crazy people, and they have to be dealt with.”
Translate This Article
