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Shooter Opens Fire at White House Dinner, Trump Evacuated

4/26/2026

49 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

A shooter opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton, evacuating U.S. President Donald Trump and officials.
Secret Service agents shot and detained the gunman, identified as Cole Allen of Torrance, California.
A Secret Service-shot officer survived thanks to his bullet-proof vest, while a second officer is expected to recover.
National Guard troops secured the hotel.
The dinner will be rescheduled within 30 days.

History

Historical Context

On September 5 1975, Manson follower Lynette Fromme raised a Colt .45 at President Gerald Ford in Sacramento; Secret Service agent Larry Buendorf seized the gun, preventing a shot. Seventeen days later, Sara Jane Moore fired at Ford in San Francisco, missing again. The twin attacks spurred tighter Secret Service protocols and led Governor Jerry Brown to enact mandatory gun-sentence legislation.

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Story summary

A shooter opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton, evacuating U.S. President Donald Trump and officials.
Secret Service agents shot and detained the gunman, identified as Cole Allen of Torrance, California.
A Secret Service-shot officer survived thanks to his bullet-proof vest, while a second officer is expected to recover.
National Guard troops secured the hotel.
The dinner will be rescheduled within 30 days.

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