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Erika Kirk Recounts Trump Assassination Attempt at WHCD

Published 29 April 2026

Erika Kirk, widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, recounted her frightening experience at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, where gunfire erupted in an apparent assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.

The incident occurred on April 25 at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., as thousands of attendees, including Trump administration officials, journalists, and guests, gathered for the annual event. Authorities identified 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen as the suspect, who allegedly rushed a Secret Service checkpoint armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives. Allen was quickly subdued after a confrontation in which one Secret Service agent was shot in the chest but survived unharmed thanks to his bulletproof vest. No other injuries were reported among the guests. Allen faces federal charges including attempted assassination and firearms offenses. Investigators described the attack as premeditated and politically motivated, citing a note he left indicating dissatisfaction with government leadership.

Kirk, 37, attended the dinner as a guest of Fox News and was inside the ballroom when panic spread following alerts of gunfire. Videos captured her being...

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