A man believed to have attempted to force his way into the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington on Saturday appeared to be aiming at President Donald Trump and other administration officials, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said.
The disturbance occurred at the Washington Hilton, where roughly 2,300 guests were attending the annual event. Law enforcement said a lone 31-year-old man from California, who had checked into the hotel, ran toward a Secret Service checkpoint in the lobby carrying multiple weapons. Officials said he had a shotgun, a handgun and several knives. Officers tackled and took him into custody; he was transported to a hospital for evaluation and had not been shot. A Secret Service agent was struck during the confrontation and hospitalized but is expected to recover, authorities said.
Blanche told NBC the suspect traveled cross-country by train from California to Chicago and then to Washington, and that evidence suggests he “set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president.” Authorities have identified the individual but had not publicly named him. They said he bought the firearms within the past couple of years and was not cooperating with investigators. Messages, device data and writings recovered from the suspect are being reviewed to determine motive.
President Trump was onstage when shots rang out. Secret Service officers quickly moved him and other senior officials to safety. Video released by the White House shows the suspect running past security officers before being subdued. Guests reportedly hid under tables as armed agents cleared the ballroom. Former President Barack Obama and other leaders praised the rapid Secret Service response, with Obama calling the episode a sobering reminder of the agency’s courage and sacrifice.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre described the event as an attempted assassination and called the assailant a “depraved crazy person.” President Trump later said the suspect expressed “strongly anti-Christian” views in his writings; media reports noted the suspect’s LinkedIn profile listed membership in campus groups described as a “Christian Fellowship,” and investigators are continuing to examine material for context and motive.
Officials said the suspect holds a master’s degree, worked as a tutor and had dabbled as an amateur video-game developer. Federal campaign finance records show a small 2024 donation to Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. He faces federal charges that include using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon and is scheduled to be arraigned.
The incident briefly raised concerns about a scheduled state visit by Britain’s King Charles III, who was due in Washington soon after the dinner. U.S. and U.K. officials reviewed security arrangements, and Buckingham Palace confirmed the visit would proceed. World leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed relief that senior officials were unharmed and condemned political violence.
President Trump used the episode to call for unity and to praise law enforcement. He also argued the episode underscored the need for a planned new State Ballroom at the White House, saying the attack “would never have happened” there — a project that has been controversial over funding, design and historical concerns.
The Washington Hilton is the same hotel where President Ronald Reagan was shot in a 1981 assassination attempt, and Saturday’s events have renewed discussion about security at high-profile political gatherings. Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin, who attended the dinner, urged bipartisan condemnation of political violence and a national conversation about how to protect public officials while preserving open civic life.
Investigators continue to examine the suspect’s devices, writings and movements to establish a clear motive. Authorities said the inquiry is ongoing and more details will be released as the investigation proceeds.