Today 07:04 AM
The White House Correspondents Dinner is a very swanky (tuxedos and evening gowns) self-congraulatory gathering of the journalists accredited to the White House. This year it was held in the DC Hilton Hotel.
Historically Presidents have attended and they and the press engaged in good natured jokes and sparring. But things have grown so hostile between President Trump and much of the mainstream media, that he didn't attend last year. But this year President Trump and the always elegant Melania attended and so did all kinds of government officials like Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Rubio and the Speaker of the House.
Well, after everyone was seated but before the event really began, a young man with a shotgun, a handgun and several knives sprinted past the metal detector checkpoint at the entrance to the hotel, but outside the ballroom. A uniformed Secret Service officer tried to intercept him and the intruder shot the officer. Other officers pulled their weapons and got off several shots, but didn't strike the individual, who was finally tackled by more Secret Service agents and handcuffed.
The Secret Service immediately hustled President Trump, Vice President Vance and the others out of the ballroom and all the guests (mostly prominent reporters) were told to get down and shelter under their tables. When it was clear that there were no more attackers, the ballroom was evacuated.
The attacker has been identified as 31 year old Cole Thomas Allen of Torrance California. Not a whole lot is known about him. He apparently worked as a teacher in a private tutoring service of some kind. His motive for attacking the dinner are unknown at this time. (But given President Trump's presence at the event, it isn't hard to guess.) He did make a $25 donation to Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, but he has almost zero presence on X.
The Secret Service Officer who was shot was wearing a body armor vest and reportedly is in good condition.
Right now, the FBI and local police are swarming the address linked to Cole Allen in Torrance CA.
Historically Presidents have attended and they and the press engaged in good natured jokes and sparring. But things have grown so hostile between President Trump and much of the mainstream media, that he didn't attend last year. But this year President Trump and the always elegant Melania attended and so did all kinds of government officials like Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Rubio and the Speaker of the House.
Well, after everyone was seated but before the event really began, a young man with a shotgun, a handgun and several knives sprinted past the metal detector checkpoint at the entrance to the hotel, but outside the ballroom. A uniformed Secret Service officer tried to intercept him and the intruder shot the officer. Other officers pulled their weapons and got off several shots, but didn't strike the individual, who was finally tackled by more Secret Service agents and handcuffed.
The Secret Service immediately hustled President Trump, Vice President Vance and the others out of the ballroom and all the guests (mostly prominent reporters) were told to get down and shelter under their tables. When it was clear that there were no more attackers, the ballroom was evacuated.
The attacker has been identified as 31 year old Cole Thomas Allen of Torrance California. Not a whole lot is known about him. He apparently worked as a teacher in a private tutoring service of some kind. His motive for attacking the dinner are unknown at this time. (But given President Trump's presence at the event, it isn't hard to guess.) He did make a $25 donation to Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, but he has almost zero presence on X.
The Secret Service Officer who was shot was wearing a body armor vest and reportedly is in good condition.
Right now, the FBI and local police are swarming the address linked to Cole Allen in Torrance CA.
