A gunman attempted to enter the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, last weekend while President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance attended. Authorities arrested 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, a California engineer and computer scientist, at the scene. He faces federal charges including attempted assassination of the president.
The incident occurred last weekend at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other administration officials were present when the gunman tried to gain entry. Media reports and Trump himself identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, a resident of California who works as an engineer and computer scientist. Allen was arrested at the scene on Saturday after attempting to enter the event and discharging a firearm during the incident, according to details from authorities and reports cited by WIRED on May 2, 2026. Allen appeared in the US District Court for the District of Columbia on Monday. He faces three federal charges: attempting to assassinate the president, transportation of a firearm in interstate commerce, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. No further details on the suspect's motive or the full sequence of events have been released by officials. The event, attended by top administration figures and media representatives, saw a swift response from law enforcement. Trump and media outlets quickly named Allen as the suspect, highlighting the rapid identification process.
