White House press dinner shooting suspect could be charged with trying to assassinate Trump, says Blanche

Donald Trump speaks at the White House shortly after a shooting incident at the White House correspondents' dinner on 25 April. Photograph: Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenDonald Trump speaks at the White House shortly after a shooting incident at the White House correspondents' dinner on 25 April. Photograph: Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty ImagesWhite House correspondents' dinner shootingWhite House press dinner shooting suspect could be charged with trying to assassinate Trump, says BlancheActing attorney general says suspect was believed to have been targeting top Trump administration officials David Smith in Washington and Edward HelmoreSun 26 Apr 2026 11.12 EDTFirst published on Sun 26 Apr 2026 08.52 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleThe gunman who tried to breach the ballroom at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington DC on Saturday night is believed to have been targeting Donald Trump and senior members of his administration, the acting US attorney general, Todd Blanche, said on Sunday.The suspect, who is in custody after being subdued by members of law enforcement as he rushed through the hotel venue, could be charged with trying to assassinate the US president, Blanche said.Blanche said in a live interview with CNN on Sunday morning, when asked if the suspect apprehended could be charged with trying to assassinate the US president, “absolutely”.Trump, Melania Trump and JD Vance were on the high table at the head of the large ballroom at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night as the glittering event was getting under way at the hotel, packed with thousands of journalists and their guests in evening wear.White House journalists’ gala ended like many US events do: with gun violenceRead moreBlanche also said officials believe that the suspect traveled by train from California to Chicago and then on to Washington, where he checked in as a guest at the hotel just a few days before one of the capital’s glitziest annual events.Trump was rushed off the stage at the sound of gunshots. The US president could be seen dropping to the floor as Secret Service agents protected him, then got him to his feet and hurried him out. Melania Trump had been talking to the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, when muffled sounds of gunshots just outside the ballroom were heard ringing out. The two women can be seen exclaiming to each other, then Trump turned his head to see what was happening.Vance was also rushed from the room, in the opposite direction from the president, moments later.Law enforcement agencies have identified Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, a suburb of Los Angeles, as the suspected gunman arrested at the event.Allen, 31, has no record of criminal charges or a civil court history in Los Angeles county, according to a records search.CCTV shows suspect running past a security checkpoint at the White House correspondents' dinner“We do believe based on a preliminary under standing of what happened that he was targeting members of the administration,” Blanche said, but cautioned that investigators don’t have “specifics beyond that general statement”.Blanche said the suspect was “not actively cooperating” with the authorities.He said to NBC earlier in the day that the alleged gunman will face charges that include assault of a federal officer, discharging a firearm and attempting to kill a federal officer. Allen is expected to appear in federal court in Washington on Monday.Blanche was…

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