‘Shots fired’: Inside Washington Hilton attack, how President Trump was escorted

The dinner, organised by the White House Correspondents’ Association, dates back to 1921 and draws the president, officials and journalists each year. This year marked Trump’s first appearance at the event as a president. Here’s what we know so far about the sequence of events:

Sequence of events

This is how events unfolded through the night (Eastern Time), according to media reports.

• 8:35pm (approx): Gunshots ring out inside the Washington Hilton. Guests take cover. Secret Service agents move US President Trump and senior officials out.
• 8:52pm: CNN reports that Trump is safe, citing a source.
• 9pm: Secret Service agents shout “shots fired”, according to pool reports. An agent says over the radio that officers have a suspect in custody.
• 9:17pm: Trump posts on Truth Social that authorities have apprehended the shooter. CNN reports that Trump wants to return to the venue; Secret Service advises against it.
• 9:36pm: Trump says law enforcement has asked him to leave the premises and that he will return to the White House. He says the dinner will be rescheduled.
• 9:39pm: Secret Service confirms that officers have one person in custody.
• 10:04pm: CNN reports that a Secret Service agent has been shot, citing multiple sources.
• 10:29pm: Trump shares video footage that appears to show the start of the shooting, followed by an image of the suspect.
• 10:30 – 10:33pm: Trump addresses reporters at the White House alongside FBI Director Kash Patel and Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche. The US President says investigators view the suspect as a “lone wolf” and describes a man charging a security checkpoint with weapons.
• 10:50 – 11:16pm (approx): US media identify the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, citing law enforcement sources.

What Trump said

Soon after Trump was rushed to safety, the US president held a presser where he shared preliminary details.

Describing the moment after the gunshots were heard, Trump said: “The first lady and I were off the stage.”

He said authorities traced the suspect to California and described the incident as the act of a lone attacker, pending further investigation. “A man armed ⁠with multiple ​weapons wearing ​a ​bulletproof ⁠vest charged a ‌security checkpoint at the ⁠White ⁠House ⁠Correspondents’ ‌Dinner ​on Saturday, ‌wounding a ‌law ​enforcement ​officer,” he said.

Investigations are ongoing.