WASHINGTON — A security scare interrupted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on the night of April 25, 2026, after an armed man tried to push through a checkpoint at the Washington Hilton and move toward the ballroom where President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, senior officials, lawmakers, and hundreds of journalists had gathered.
The annual gala, often called “Nerd Prom,” had been underway only about 20 minutes after the president and first lady arrived when the incident began. Authorities said the man rushed a secured screening area on a level above the ballroom and was stopped by U.S. Secret Service personnel before he reached the packed hall.
Investigators identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, a Caltech graduate who had worked as a teacher and video game developer. Officials said he was carrying a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives when he charged the perimeter. Allen had checked into the hotel as a guest before the dinner.
Agents intercepted him in the hotel after he ran through a magnetometer. A struggle followed and gunfire erupted. One Secret Service officer was struck in the chest at close range; a ballistic vest prevented a more serious injury, and the officer was later reported in stable condition. Allen was taken into custody with minor injuries. Guests were not reported struck by gunfire.
Security teams ordered an evacuation as officers swept the hotel for additional threats. Organizers briefly considered continuing the program, but the White House Correspondents’ Association canceled the rest of the evening, citing security concerns. The dinner was later rescheduled with tighter screening.
President Trump praised the Secret Service for stopping the breach and said the safety of those inside the ballroom came first. Federal prosecutors later charged Allen with attempting to assassinate the president and related firearms offenses. Investigators searched his California home and reviewed writings sent to relatives shortly before the incident. Officials have said they believe he acted alone and have not announced evidence of a wider plot.
The episode has sharpened questions about how an armed hotel guest came so close to one of Washington’s most closely watched annual events, and about security for large gatherings that bring the president, Cabinet officials, and the press into the same room.
