At 8:35pm Saturday, strange thuds disrupted the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington. The doors burst open as guests exited a ballroom where about 2,600 journalists and dignitaries had gathered.
Among those present was President Donald Trump with First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other dignitaries at a long head table.
Waiters quickly moved to the middle aisle while agents hustled Vance and others off stage. Plainclothes officers pushed cabinet members seated moments earlier under tables before rolling them beneath for safety.
Other officers drew handguns as more tactical gear- clad individuals appeared, some seemingly from nowhere, trained on attendees who were diving to floors or crawling under tables.
Initially unimpressed by the chaos, Trump later told reporters in a White House press conference that it was not a service mishap but an active shooter incident. Authorities said a gunman with multiple weapons had breached security at the Hilton where another lone gunman shot President Reagan in 1981.
The suspect, identified as Cole Allen, a California teacher staying at the hotel, allegedly fired rounds from a shotgun that struck a Secret Service agent before being tackled by police.
Secret Service agents soon moved to Trump. He was crouched out of his chair while other agents navigated across tables and chairs to reach remaining dignitaries.
Journalists scrambled for smartphones and cameras as they tried to figure out what had happened. Rumours swirled but the event was eventually called off with President pledging to resume it within 30 days.
Meanwhile, agents sealed the ballroom doors which grew warm. Education Secretary Linda McMahon left the hotel with her security detail followed by others who undid their bow ties and high heels as they departed.