Key Takeaways:
- President Donald Trump addressed the nation following a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.
- The suspect, identified by media sources as Cole Tomas Allen, charged a security checkpoint with multiple weapons before being apprehended.
- A Secret Service officer was shot at close range but survived thanks to a bulletproof vest.
- Trump released the first images of the suspect and shared video footage of the incident on social media, praising law enforcement’s swift response.
Following the shocking shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, April 25, President Donald Trump delivered a statement from the White House briefing room. During the address, he shared the first images of the suspect and commended the United States Secret Service for their rapid intervention.
The Incident and Secret Service Response
The shooting occurred near the screening area of the Washington Hilton, prompting security details to immediately rush the president away from the venue to safety.
According to Trump, the attacker was armed with multiple weapons and charged directly at a security checkpoint. He confirmed that the shooter was quickly taken down by law enforcement. Praising the prompt and decisive actions of the Secret Service, Trump noted the severe danger officers faced during the confrontation.
“A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons,” Trump stated. “I just spoke to the officer… he’s in great shape. ” The president revealed that one officer was shot at close range during the altercation but was saved from fatal injury by his bulletproof vest.
Suspect Identified: “A Very Sick Person”
During his press address, Trump provided initial details about the apprehended shooter, characterizing him as a potential “lone wolf.”
“These are sick people,” the president remarked, confirming that the suspect is from California. He also noted that law enforcement raids were likely already underway at the suspect’s residence. “The man has been captured. They’ve gone to his apartment,” Trump said, adding, “I guess he lives in California, and he’s a sick person, a very sick person, and we don’t want things like this to happen.”
While the president did not officially name the attacker during the briefing, Fox News and New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz has identified the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect as Cole Tomas Allen.
Video Footage Shared on Social Media
In addition to releasing photographs from the briefing room, Trump took to social media to share a video capturing the tense moments of the incident. The footage shows security forces drawing their weapons and neutralizing the threat.
The video of the confrontation can be viewed on the President’s Truth Social account.