White House Correspondents Dinner Rescheduled (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for OP) (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)
President Trump Evacuated During White House Correspondents’ Dinner
On April 25, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were seated near the front of the ballroom at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. for this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.
The event traditionally features presidents who deliver lighthearted remarks before an audience of journalists and media figures.
Shortly before 8:30 p.m., the evening was suddenly interrupted when a series of loud gunshots reportedly rang out from the hotel lobby. Witnesses said as many as five shots were fired.
According to reports, Secret Service agents immediately rushed to protect the president, forcing him to the ground while shouting, “Stay down! Stay down!” Trump and the First Lady were then swiftly evacuated from the venue. Other administration officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., were also escorted out.
WATCH: Chaotic moments after shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner pic.twitter.com/cndtlIatDt
— BNO News (@BNONews) April 26, 2026
Authorities later identified the alleged shooter as 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance, California. Allen was immediately taken into federal custody and held without bond.
One Secret Service agent was struck in the chest, but the bullet was stopped by the agent’s protective vest. Trump later provided an update on the agent’s condition, saying, “The vest did the job,” and noting that the agent was recovering well.
Annual Dinner Rescheduled For July 24
Now, the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) has announced that its annual dinner will be rescheduled for July 24.
In a message to WHCA members, association president Weijia Jiang said the rescheduled dinner will be a smaller gathering featuring enhanced security measures and updated access procedures. She said the decision was made after careful consideration and consultation with members.
“This dinner will not only be an opportunity to carry out our program. It will be a statement that violence has no place in American life and a free press will not be intimidated into silence,” Jiang wrote.
She says the event will take place at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C, which used to be the Trump International Hotel.
“As you have all demonstrated, courage and community can and should rise above,” she continues.
Trump has confirmed that he plans to attend the rescheduled event and accepted an invitation to speak at the dinner.
