On April 25, 2026, an attempted assasination of President Donald Trump took place during the White House Correspondent’s Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. The dinner is an annual event attended by politicians, journalists, celebrities, and a variety of high-ranking government officials. During the evening, a man armed with weapons approached a security checkpoint near the event and opened fire at law enforcement officers. Secret Service agents reacted within seconds and quickly moved Trump and other important guests to secure areas. Trump was not hurt during the attack.

The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California. According to investigators, Allen had planned the attack ahead of time and traveled across the country in preparation for carrying it out. Authorities later found weapons, ammunition, and written notes connected to the attack.

During the shooting, one Secret Service officer was struck, though he survived with non-life-threatening injuries as a result of his bulletproof uniform. After being quickly seized by police, Allen was later charged with attempted assassination of the president, along with several other federal crimes. 

The attempted assassination received major attention from media centers across the United States and, eventually, the world. Americans expressed shock over this serious attack and reflected on earlier assassination attempts conducted on President Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign.

Politicians from both major parties strongly condemned the attacker’s violent methods. The event also prompted security agencies to review protection plans for major political gatherings, and has called attention to the continuing issue of political extremism in the United States today.