Gunman was likely targeting Trump team, says official
What you need to know
- Acting Attorney General said the suspect was likely targeting Trump and his team at the White House dinner
- Shots were fired at the White House Correspondents' Dinner with President Trump in attendance
- Trump, uninjured, was rushed from the event by security personnel
- The suspect, a 31-year-old man from California, has been taken into custody
- A Secret Service agent was hit and is in hospital
- Trump held a press conference at the White House after the shooting
Below you can see DW's coverage of the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner:
Skip next section Trump: Gunman held 'strongly anti-Christian' views04/26/2026April 26, 2026Trump: Gunman held 'strongly anti-Christian' views
US President Donald Trump has claimed that the suspected gunman in Saturday's shooting held "strongly anti-Christian" views.
"If you read his manifesto, he hates Christians that's one thing for sure," he told Fox News, without providing further details but describing the attacker as a "sick guy."
According to the AFP news agency, the suspect's LinkedIn profile listed him as being a member of the "Christian Fellowship" and the "Nerf Club" at the California Institute of Technology, known as Caltech.
"He had a lot of hatred in his heart for quite a while," Trump said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CrDjSkip next section White House: Trump was target of assassination attempt04/26/2026April 26, 2026White House: Trump was target of assassination attempt
The shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday night was an attempt to "assassinate" US President Donald Trump and other members of his administration, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed on Sunday.
Leavitt wrote on social media that the event had been "hijacked by a depraved crazy person who sought to assassinate the President and kill as many top Trump administration officials as possible."
She described Trump as "truly fearless" and echoed the President's desire that "this political violence needs to end."
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmaker Jamie Raskin, who also attended the dinner, has said he hopes the incident sparks a bipartisan conversation about public safety in the United States.
"We need every politician in the country, every leader in the country, every citizen in the country denouncing political violence across the board," he told CBS News on Sunday, "regardless of where it's coming from."
https://p.dw.com/p/5CrBzSkip next section King Charles' state visit to US to go ahead04/26/2026April 26, 2026King Charles' state visit to US to go ahead
The state visit of British monarch King Charles III to the United States will go ahead as planned this week, US President Donald Trump said on Sunday.
The attempted shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday briefly cast doubt on the state visit, as additional security questions complicated an already challenging diplomatic event.
Earlier on Sunday, the United Kingdom's ambassador's to the US, Christian Turner, told CBS News that King Charles was still expected to arrive at the White House on Monday and to attend a state banquet on Tuesday night.
President Trump himself then also confirmed that the visit would be going ahead, saying: "We're going to have a great time."
"He's a great guy, and we look forward to it," he told Fox News. "He's really a fantastic person and a tremendous representative, and he's brave. He represents his nation like nobody else can do it."
Update: Buckingham Palace confirm state visit
Buckingham Palace confirmed on Sunday evening that King Charles' state visit to the United States would indeed go ahead as planned, as reported earlier.
In a statement, the Palace said that Charles was "greatly relieved" that Trump, his wife Melania and other guests were unharmed, and said: "The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the Visit getting underway tomorrow."
Earlier, senior UK minister Darren Jones told reporters that security teams in both the UK and the US were "working closely to ensure the security arrangements are put appropriately in place" for the state visit.
According to the AFP news agency, King Charles reached out privately to the Trumps to express their sympathies and to share their gratitude to the security services.
Previously, royal sources had told the BBC that "light adjustments" may need to be made to certain engagements on the King's itinerary.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Cr5CSkip next section Trump: Attack shows need for new White House Ballroom04/26/2026April 26, 2026Trump: Attack shows need for new White House Ballroom
US President Donald Trump claimed on Sunday that the attempted shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner demonstrated the need for the new State Ballroom currently under construction at the White House.
"This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House," Trump wrote on social media in comments echoed to Fox News shortly after. "It cannot be built fast enough!"
Trump told Fox that it was "tough" to secure the current site of the dinner at the Washington Hilton hotel but that the suspected shooter was stopped by law enforcement and didn't come close to actually entering the ballroom where the event was taking place.
The new State Ballroom, which is set to replace the former East Wing of the White House, has been under construction since September 2025.
The project has been criticized for its funding, design, permission process and destruction of historic architectural and landscape features.
Construction begins on new White House ballroom
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https://p.dw.com/p/5Cr3GSkip next section What do we know about the suspected shooter?04/26/2026April 26, 2026What do we know about the suspected shooter?
Police arrested a 31-year-old male from California who had been a guest at the Washington Hilton hotel.
The apparent suspect, who was initially taken to hospital for evaluation, has since been questioned and is to be arraigned on Monday on charges of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, according to US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro.
The Associated Press reported that he was a master's graduate, tutor and amateur video game developer, based on the LinkedIn profile that appeared to match his name and photo.
He acquired a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering before completing a master's degree in computer science. He had reportedly been working for the past six years as a tutor helping aspiring college students and had developed a video game about molecular chemistry available on the Steam platform.
According to federal campaign finance records, he had donated $25 (€21) to Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in 2024.
Trump told a press conference at the White House that the suspect was carrying multiple weapons, and police later confirmed he had been armed with a shotgun, a handgun and several knives.
He said a US Secret Service officer shot during the attack was hit at close range by a "powerful gun," but was protected by a bulletproof vest.
The US president also posted a video on social media appearing to show the suspect running past security officers, who then point their weapons at him.
The Washington Hilton is the same venue where then-president Ronald Reagan was shot 45 years ago, an assassination attempt he survived, though he was severely wounded.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Cqw5Skip next section Suspect was likely targeting Trump and his team at White House dinner — Blanche04/26/2026April 26, 2026Suspect was likely targeting Trump and his team at White House dinner — Blanche
The suspect in the attempted attack at the White House Correspondents' dinner is believed to have been targeting US President Donald Trump and members of his administration.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the apparent suspect traveled across the country, taking a train from California to Chicago and then to Washington before checking into the hotel hosting the event.
Law enforcement officials have identified the suspect, though authorities have not formally named him.
"It does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president," Blanche told the broadcaster NBC.
"The suspect is believed to have purchased the firearms he carried within the last couple of years," Blanche added.
The individual tried to force his way into the ballroom at the Washington Hilton but was tackled, triggering a chaotic scene in which shots were fired, President Donald Trump was rushed from the stage, and guests took cover.
Authorities are analyzing the messages alongside data from the suspect’s devices and writings for clues about motivation.
The gunman was taken into custody and was initially being evaluated in the hospital.
"He failed," Blanche said told the news channel CBS. "Law enforcement did their jobs."
The gunman is "not actively cooperating" with the investigation, said Blanche.
Washington shooting: Suspect in custody, motive unclear
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https://p.dw.com/p/5CqoHSkip next section We're reopening the blog04/26/2026April 26, 2026We're reopening the blog
Dmytro Hubenko EditorWe'll be keeping you up to date with events in the United States, as officials release details about the accused gunman who tried to storm the ballroom at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.
Please stay with us!
https://p.dw.com/p/5CqldSkip next section What we know about the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner04/26/2026April 26, 2026What we know about the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner
Thank you for joining our coverage of last night's shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC.
As we wrap up our live reporting on the shooting, here's a summary of events from the night:
Where and when did the shooting start
Gunshots were heard shortly after the White House Correspondents' Dinner began at the Washington Hilton hotel.
According to reports, a lone suspect, who has been taken into police custody, had been staying in the hotel and rushed Secret Service agents in the lobby. Shots were fired and one agent was hospitalized.
Police said the suspect was not shot, but was tackled to the ground before also being taken to hospital.
How did the Secret Service react
Numerous Secret Service agents were in the room with President Trump and the 2,300 guests when the shots were fired.
They sprang into action, rushing Trump and other senior figures from the stage.
Cabinet members in the audience had their own security detail with them.
Heavily armed agents quickly appeared after the shots were heard, pointing their guns out into the room where the guests were hiding under the tables.
There has been some criticism from people in attendance that security had been lax, but the Secret Service defended the security measures, saying its "layered security posture" had managed to stop the armed suspect.
What did authorities say about the suspect?
A 31-year-old man from California was arrested after being tackled by law enforcement, police said.
He had reportedly been carrying a shotgun, a handgun and several knives. Police said they believe the man acted alone.
The alleged shooter had a LinkedIn profile that said he worked as a tutor and had a master's degree. He was also an amateur video game developer.
News agencies also reported that he had donated $25 (€21) to the 2024 presidential election campaign of Democrat candidate Kamala Harris.
The suspect is to be formally charged in court on Monday.
What did Trump say after the shooting
A couple of hours later, he held a press conference at the White House where he said the shooter was likely a "lone wolf" and that the incident had been "rather traumatic."
The president said he had wanted to continue the dinner after the shooting, but the Secret Service told him he had to leave.
He also thanked law enforcement for their quick reaction in a post on Truth Social.
The president has said the Correspondents' Dinner will be held again within 30 days.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CqHOSkip next section More world leaders express relief after shots fired at White House dinner04/26/2026April 26, 2026More world leaders express relief after shots fired at White House dinner
World leaders have expressed shock and relief after shots were fired at a dinner attended by US President Donald Trump.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the incident "unacceptable" and said violence has no place in a democracy, adding he extended full support to Trump.
The shots were heard at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday evening.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she was "relieved" there were no casualties and also stressed that political violence has no place in a democracy, adding that an event honoring a free press should not become a scene of fear.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned what he described as an attack on Trump.
"Violence is never the answer. Humanity will only move forward through democracy, coexistence and peace," he wrote.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he and his wife were shocked by the attempted assassination, adding they were relieved the president and first lady were safe and praising the US Secret Service for a "swift and decisive" response.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also commented, saying he was "relieved to learn that President Trump, the First Lady and Vice President are safe and unharmed."
"I extend my best wishes for their continued safety and well-being. Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned," Modi wrote on X.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CqKWSkip next section Starmer condemns DC shooting 2 days before King Charles to visit04/26/2026April 26, 2026Starmer condemns DC shooting 2 days before King Charles to visit
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he is "shocked" by a shooting at a Washington media gala and relieved that President Donald Trump and others were unharmed.
The incident prompted speculation about security around the president just ahead of a royal visit by Britain's King Charles III.
The shooting took place late Saturday at the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents' Association, less than 48 hours before Charles is due to begin a US state visit.
"I am shocked by the scenes at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington overnight, Stamer posted in a message on the platform X.
"Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms."
The UK prime minister also expressed relief that the president and first lady were unharmed.
The king is set to travel to Washington and New York with Queen Camilla for a four-day trip that includes a meeting with Trump and the first lady and a state dinner.
Senior minister Darren Jones said British and US security teams have been working closely to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place, adding the government and royal household take the king’s security very seriously.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Cq5RSkip next section 'I could smell some gunpowder'04/26/2026April 26, 2026'I could smell some gunpowder'
DW's Washington bureau chief Ines Pohl describes the scenes inside the ballroom at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
DW reporter Janelle Dumalaon was also at the event.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CptaSkip next section IN PICTURES: Gunshots at the White House Correspondents' Dinner04/26/2026April 26, 2026
IN PICTURES: Gunshots at the White House Correspondents' Dinner
How the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner unfolded
Saturday marked the first time that Trump, who has frequently accused the media of lying when it is critical of him, attended the White House Correspondents' Dinner while in office. He was the first president not to attend the event. In another break with tradition, Saturday's event did not include a comedian. In years past, comedians were invited to roast the president in front of big names from US media.
However, all that paled in comparison to what happened next:
- The dinner event officially began at 8 p.m. (0000 GMT)
- At around 8:35 p.m., thuds were heard from the floor above the ballroom
- The sound turned chatter to silence, with some nervous reactions — Trump later said he thought it was a tray being dropped
- In fact, a gunman had rushed a Secret Service checkpoint in the lobby
- Police Chief Jeffery Carroll later said the man had been carrying a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives
- A Secret Service agent was injured and taken to the hospital, as was the suspected assailant, who had been tackled to the ground
- In the ballroom, the Secret Service sprang into action, hustling Trump and his wife, Melania, along with other officials from the stage
- Other agents jumped to cover Cabinet secretaries who were in attendance
- Guests hid under tables as armed agents seemingly appeared from behind tables, pointing rifles toward the crowd
- At around 9:17 p.m., Trump posted on Truth Social that the shooter had been arrested and that law enforcement had 'acted quickly and bravely'
- Trump said he had tried to continue the event, but was told to leave by law enforcement
- At around 10:30 p.m., Trump addressed the media from the White House
- He said the suspect appeared to be a lone gunman and joked that Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents Association, had been about to ask him a 'killer question'
Secret Service says attacker stopped at first contact
The US Secret Service deputy director has said the attempted attack was thwarted before it could escalate.
Matthew Quinn said in a statement that the suspect was stopped immediately.
"Tonight, a coward attempted to create a national tragedy. He underestimated the protective capabilities of the US Secret Service and was stopped at first contact." Quinn said.
"The strength of our layered security posture was evident, with a myriad of countermeasures still ahead," he added.
He also expressed gratitude to the men and women of the Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CpmfSkip next section What do we know about the suspected shooter in custody?04/26/2026April 26, 2026What do we know about the suspected shooter in custody?
Police arrested a 31-year-old male from California who had been a guest at the Washington Hilton hotel.
The Associated Press reported that he was a master's graduate, tutor and amateur video game developer, based on the LinkedIn profile that appeared to match his name and photo.
He acquired a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering before completing a master's degree in computer science.
He had reportedly been working for the past six years as a tutor helping aspiring college students and had developed a video game about molecular chemistry available on the Steam platform.
According to federal campaign finance records, he had donated $25 (€21) to Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in 2024.
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