President Donald J. Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and other senior US officials have been rushed to safety after gunshots were heard at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner earlier today (April 26th).

While early reports were confused (understandable given the situation), it appears the incident occurred at a security/screening checkpoint away from the main location. However, it was close enough for the approximately 2,300 attendees to hear the gunfire.

Hosted at the Washington Hilton, the gunmen have been apprehended, and no fatalities have been reported. One security guard was hit, but their body armor effectively prevented serious harm, according to reports.

Access to the event was via invitation only, with the hotel closed to the public from 2 pm onwards. The event began at 8 pm. According to reports, the gunman (Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California) was armed with multiple firearms, including a shotgun and a handgun.

Shots fired near US President

“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we “LET THE SHOW GO ON,” but we will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement.” President Trump explained in a Truth Social post.

“They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different from planned, and we’ll just plain have to do it again,” he added.

According to reports, the President was immediately escorted from the venue by the United States Secret Service. Treated as an attempted assassination attempt, Secret Service agents jumped on stage and initially shielded the President as a precaution before removing him to a “secure location.”

Other guests at the event ducked under tables, and other armed agents flooded the room for protection. While it was reported that Trump wanted the event to resume, it has since been canceled.

The gunman has been described as a “lone wolf,” and the motive for the attack is still under investigation.

“I start hearing gunshots in the hall right near me, and the next thing I knew, a police officer threw me to the ground and was on top of me,” Wolf Blitzer (who was at the event) told CNN.

Attempted assassination on Trump?

“And then they grabbed me, the police officers, and they took me back into the men’s room, where it was safe, and there were about 15 other men who were stuck in there, and they won’t let them out, and that’s what happened,” he added.

“All of a sudden, a guy with a weapon, it was a very, very serious weapon, it starts shooting, and I happened to be a few feet away from him as he was shooting,” Blitzer explained.

While this sounds dramatic, the event and reaction to it are exactly how the Secret Service and security are supposed to work. Agents assume the worst, take immediate action, and evacuate Very Important Persons (VIPs) as a matter of course.

Thanks to the rapid and professional actions of security at the event, no one has been harmed. The President himself was never in actual physical danger either.

This particular hotel has a history of attempted assassinations of sitting US Presidents, too. Back in March of 1981, John Hinkley Jr. shot and seriously injured President Ronald Reagan, who was punctured in the lung.