Former President Donald Trump shared a chilling account of his wife Melania’s reaction when a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, was armed with guns and knives when he entered the Washington Hilton on Saturday night. Trump, who was unharmed, was swiftly evacuated from the stage. Allen, a guest at the hotel, was apprehended and was expected to appear in court on Monday. Authorities believe he acted alone but have not disclosed his motive or intended target.
Trump recounted that Melania was the first to notice the disturbance, describing it as a “bad noise.” He initially mistook the sound for a tray dropping but soon realized it was gunfire. Reflecting on the incident, Trump expressed shock at the sudden turn of events and commended the swift response of security personnel.
Video footage posted by Trump on Truth Social captured the moment when the suspect bypassed security barricades as Secret Service agents intervened. Despite an officer sustaining a gunshot wound to a bullet-resistant vest, the gunman was subdued without injury and taken for evaluation at a hospital.
Allen has been arrested and faces charges related to firearms, including assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon. The shooting occurred near the event venue, disrupting the annual gathering meant to celebrate journalism and the First Amendment, a gathering that drew increased attention due to Trump’s presence as the first time he attended since assuming the presidency.
