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Gunman Subdued After Shots at Correspondents Dinner

Published 26 April 2026

A gunman attempted to breach the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night, sparking chaos among hundreds of journalists and political figures gathered for President Donald Trump's first appearance at the event as president. The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, was subdued by authorities outside the ballroom and taken into custody after shots were fired, though initial reports of his death proved inaccurate.

The incident unfolded just as Trump prepared to deliver his speech, forcing Secret Service agents to surround and escort him from the dais. Attendees, many dressed in formal attire, sought cover under tables amid the sudden gunfire. "We were under the table before we knew what was happening," recounted journalists Missy Ryan, Matt Viser, and Michael Scherer of The Atlantic in a joint account. As the immediate danger subsided, the room transformed into an impromptu newsroom, with reporters using mobile phones to capture images, conduct interviews, and relay details despite notoriously unreliable cellphone service in the venue.

Photographer Alex Brandon of The Associated Press, attending as a guest without his...

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