Trump says shooting at press dinner 'won't deter him' from Iran war
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Sun, 04/26/2026 - 10:14
US president says incident 'unlikely' linked to conflict, as suspect armed with shotgun, handgun and multiple knives detained
US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, shortly after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on 25 April 2026 (AFP/Kent Nishimura)
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US President Donald Trump said that a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner would not deter him from the war on Iran, adding that the incident was not likely linked to the conflict.
Trump and other top US leaders were evacuated on Saturday night from the Washington Hilton after shots were fired outside the banquet hall where the annual event was taking place.
"It's not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran," Trump later told reporters.
"I don't know if that had anything to do with it, I really don't think so, based on what we know," he added.
Earlier he had said "you never know" if it could be linked to the Iran war, and added that investigators were working to figure out the motive of the shooter.
Trump had cancelled his envoys' trip for peace talks with Iran earlier on Saturday, saying Tehran could "call us" to negotiate.
The president said the suspected shooter at the correspondents' dinner was in custody and had appeared to be a "lone wolf", describing him as a "very sick person".
A Secret Service agent was struck by gunfire but was saved by a bulletproof vest, Trump said.
The president later shared a picture on Truth Social of the suspected assailant, showing him lying face down and topless, with his hands cuffed behind his back.
The suspect was later identified in US media as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California.
According to sources cited by CBS News, Allen told law enforcement officers that he had wanted to shoot Trump administration officials.
The suspect is being charged with using a firearm and of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, the US attorney for Washington announced. More charges were expected to be added.
Washington's police chief said the suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives, and that officials believed he was a guest at the hotel.
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The correspondents' dinner was postponed, with Trump confirming it would be rescheduled to a later date.
Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and many other Trump administration leaders, were in attendance.
Attendees reported hearing between five and eight shots. The premises was immediately evacuated.
Video footage shows Melania Trump and Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, in shock as gunshots are heard.
They were quickly taken off the stage alongside Trump, who was pulled to the ground by his security detail.
The incident marks the third time in recent years that there had been attempts on Trump's life. Reacting to the assassination attempts, Trump compared himself to former US President Abraham Lincoln.
"They don't go after the ones that don't do much," the president said on Saturday evening.
"I hate to say I'm honoured by that, but we've done a lot," he added, talking up his record in office.
At a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania in July 2024, Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt, and was grazed by a bullet.
Two months later, a man was arrested after being spotted hiding at a Trump golf course in Florida armed with a rifle. He was later jailed for life after being convicted of attempted assassination.
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