What we know about the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
4/26/202613 min
Hours after a gunman attempted to breach the White House Correspondents' Dinner, details are slowly emerging about who he is, and how he was able to get into the Washington Hilton where the dinner was held.
Two sources familiar with the matter say Cole Allen has been identified as the alleged gunman, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told NBC's Meet the Press that Allen is believed to have been targeting administration officials.
The incident shocked Washington — and led to the safe evacuation from the scene of the president, much of his Cabinet, and members of Congress.
NPR’s Danielle Kurtzleben and Ryan Lucas have more on the investigation into the shooting, while reporter Steve Futterman learned more about the suspect in his suburban-Los Angeles hometown.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Henry Larson. It was edited by Ashley Brown, Alfredo Carbajal, and Krishnadev Calamur. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsRob Schmitz· Host0:00
NPR's Franco Ordoñez was in the room when it happened.
Franco Ordoñez0:03
The dinner had just started. I mean, they just presented the colors, and The Star-Spangled Banner had just been played.
Rob Schmitz· Host0:09
The scene, the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner. Media types, Trump administration officials, and other guests were at the Washington Hilton that evening for an annual event that raises money for the press corps organization that covers the president. [dishes clanking] Trump was minutes away from speaking when shots were fired near the ballroom entrance.
Franco Ordoñez0:27
[people screaming] The waitstaff was really just starting to clear the salad plates when we heard this bang, bang, bang.
Rob Schmitz· Host0:36
An armed man had rushed past security personnel outside of the ballroom.
Franco Ordoñez0:39
And then it was just a bit of a scream and then crashing of tables as all the guests were literally just hitting the floor, going over tables, going over chairs.
Rob Schmitz· Host0:49
[siren blaring] Secret Service quickly escorted President Trump and other senior officials out of the ballroom, and Trump held a press briefing just after the shooting unfolded.
Donald Trump· Soundbite0:58
I didn't wanna say this, but, uh, this is why we have to have all of the attributes of what we're planning at the White House. It's actually a larger room, and it's, uh, much more secure. It's got... It's drone-proof. It's bulletproof glass. We need the ballroom.
Rob Schmitz· Host1:13
[pensive music] Consider this, the first ever White House Correspondents' Dinner attended by Donald Trump as president is the first ever to be called off by a gunman breaching security. We'll take you through the latest on what we know about the shooting and the man accused in the attack.
Unknown speaker1:28
[pensive music]