US Prosecutors: Shooter at White House Event Targeted Trump Staff

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the suspect in the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner targeted members of US President Donald Trump’s administration. Prosecutors have not yet disclosed which Trump administration staff member was the target.

“It appears the suspect was targeting administration members. We do not yet have specific details on a particular administration member, except that we understand it was the intent and target,” Blanche told CNN’s Dana Bash, as reported by CNN on Sunday (26/4/2026).

This suspected target was revealed after law enforcement executed several search warrants overnight.

The incident occurred on Saturday (25/4) night, as Trump attended a dinner with White House journalists’ associates at the Hilton Washington DC hotel. The shooting then took place outside the ballroom hosting the event.

Those present inside were directed to hide under tables or lie flat on the floor. Secret Service agents immediately rushed towards Trump and Melania, who were on stage.

They promptly evacuated both. In addition to Trump, US Vice President JD Vance was also immediately evacuated.

Security agents were also seen evacuating US House Speaker Mike Johnson, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy, and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. They were taken to a safe location.

The shooter has been arrested and identified as Cole Tomas Allen. He is a 31-year-old man from California.