Trump Details White House Dinner Shooting, Secret Service Response on 60 Minutes

A Secret Service checkpoint outside the ballroom failed to stop a gunman before a room packed with more than 2,500 guests, raising immediate questions about how a high-profile political event turned into a security emergency at one of Washington’s most closely watched hotel venues.

The shooting erupted Saturday night at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, where the president, first lady, vice president, Cabinet members and members of the press had gathered for the annual gathering. Authorities said the suspect was armed with two firearms and knives and was stopped before reaching the ballroom. A Secret Service officer was struck by a round but was protected by a bulletproof vest. The Secret Service evacuated President Trump just after 8:30 p.m. ET, and the dinner was abruptly halted.

The location added a stark historical echo. The attack occurred at the same hotel where President Ronald Reagan was nearly assassinated by John Hinckley 45 years earlier, underscoring how the Washington Hilton has twice become the scene of violence tied to the nation’s political class. The White House Correspondents’ Association says its annual dinner is its main source of revenue and supports scholarships, awards and other association work, while also serving as a traditional First Amendment celebration that draws the president, senior officials and the press.

In a broadcast interview with Norah O’Donnell on 60 Minutes, Trump said he had read an alleged manifesto emailed by the suspect to family members minutes before the attack and said the suspect had been targeting members of the Trump administration. CBS News identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance, California, and reported that investigators were examining his motive. CBS also reported that the suspect’s writings were found both at his home in Torrance and in his 10th-floor hotel room at the Washington Hilton.

Trump described the suspect as a “pretty sick guy” and said he was not worried during the evacuation, adding that he wanted to see what was happening. He also praised law enforcement’s response and said the injured Secret Service officer had spoken with him and was in good spirits. Later, Trump dismissed conspiracy theories about the attack, saying people spreading them are “more sick than they are con people.” The episode now leaves investigators, the Secret Service and event organizers facing pressure to explain how the breach happened and what new protections will be required when major political-media gatherings resume.