While the note did not name President Donald Trump directly, it strongly suggested hostility toward him and his leadership|@WhiteHouse|X

Panic and confusion gripped White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, after gunfire erupted near a security checkpoint on Saturday night, forcing authorities to evacuate President Donald Trump from the venue.

More than 2,000 guests, including politicians, journalists, and public figures, were inside the ballroom when shots rang out.

Attorney General Todd Blanche said yesterday that President Donald Trump and his Cabinet were likely the targets.

What happened during the chaos
Officials arrested 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen at the scene. Investigators said he carried multiple weapons and likely acted alone. During the exchange of fire, a federal agent was struck but survived because of a bulletproof vest.

Who is the gunman
Authorities say Allen is a mechanical engineering graduate, a part-time tutor, and an independent video game developer. He studied at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and later earned a master’s degree in computer science.

Investigators say that Allen allegedly left behind a “manifesto” and other writings in his hotel room criticizing the administration’s policies.

While it did not name Trump directly, it strongly suggested hostility toward him and his leadership. 

Investigators believe he acted alone and had been staying at the hotel where the event was held. He reportedly traveled across the country to attend the dinner and carried multiple weapons, including a shotgun and a handgun.

Before the attack, Allen sent messages and wrote a long note expressing anger toward the Trump administration. In some writings, he even referred to himself as a “friendly federal assassin,” suggesting political motivations behind the attack.

In the aftermath, Trump used the incident to push for a fortified White House ballroom project, arguing that current venues pose security risks.

He said the proposed 90,000-square-foot facility, designed with input from the military and the Secret Service, would prevent such threats, even as legal challenges and funding debates over the project continue.