President Donald Trump has opened up about the chaotic seconds when Secret Service agents whisked him and the First Lady out of the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner following reports of gunfire.
In an interview aired on CBS’s “60 Minutes” on April 26, Trump described how his own curiosity briefly slowed the evacuation. “A big part of it was me,” he told the interviewer. “I wanted to see what was happening… I was saying, ‘Wait a second, wait a second, let me see. Wait a second’ to the agents.”
Trump to Appear on ’60 Minutes’ After Correspondents Dinner Shooting
Trump continued, explaining that as they moved out of the ballroom, agents instructed him and Melania to get down on the floor. “I was walking out, halfway there, and they said get on the floor. So I got on the floor. The First Lady did too… At that point, I thought, I’ve been through this a few times already.”
According to Fox News and other reports, the incident unfolded on the evening of April 25 at the Washington Hilton during the high-profile media gala. As soon as agents received word of the threat, Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt were swiftly escorted from the room.
Trump rushed off stage after shots fired at White House Correspondents’ Dinner | CNN Politics
Authorities later identified the shooter as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California. The suspect reportedly charged a security checkpoint armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives before opening fire, striking one Secret Service agent who was saved by a bulletproof vest.
Trump, attending the dinner as sitting president for the first time in his current term, praised the rapid response of law enforcement while acknowledging the close call. The event, which draws thousands of journalists, politicians, and celebrities each year, was thrown into turmoil as attendees took cover under tables.
The dramatic evacuation adds to the list of security incidents surrounding the president, coming after previous assassination attempts. No serious injuries were reported among the VIPs, and the suspect was quickly taken into custody.
This latest episode has once again spotlighted the intense security challenges facing high-profile political events in Washington.