President Donald Trump described on April 26 his initial reaction to a shooting incident that occurred outside the White House correspondents’ dinner in Washington, D.C. The event took place at the Washington Hilton, where multiple gunshots were heard during the evening.
The situation raised concerns for those attending the high-profile event. Trump said during a press conference held afterward that an individual armed with a shotgun, a pistol, and several knives charged a Secret Service checkpoint. He identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, age 31 and from California. According to Trump, Allen was not struck by gunfire but was apprehended and taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
Trump recounted that when he first heard the sounds of gunfire, he thought it might have been something less serious. “I thought it was a tray falling,” he said. He added that this type of noise was familiar to him from past experiences. However, moments later he realized they were actually gunshots.
The president noted that some people reacted immediately while others took longer to understand what had happened. He mentioned that First Lady Melania Trump commented it was an “unpleasant sound.” Despite the disruption, Trump expressed gratitude for the quick response by United States Secret Service agents who evacuated him within seconds.
Trump also stated his intention had been to continue with the event so as not to disrupt its proceedings; however, due to security protocols and safety concerns, it was decided that the dinner would be suspended.
