President Donald Trump has argued that the shooting at Saturday’s Correspondents’ Dinner is ‘exactly the reason’ why a ballroom should be constructed at the White House.
Saturday night’s annual press event erupted into chaos when shots rang out, as harrowing images revealed top administration officials rushing out of the Washington Hilton.
A gunman stormed security at the hotel, prompting several armed agents to rush the suspect and exchange gunfire.
A Secret Service member was shot in their protective gear and was injured but is expected to recover. Everyone else was unharmed. Law enforcement officials later confirmed the suspect as a California teacher named Cole Thomas Allen, 31.
The president argued in a post on Truth Social that a White House ballroom would have prevented the shooting, writing: ‘What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE.’
Trump’s construction on the White House has prompted a slew of backlash, but the president has now claimed that, in light of the recent incident, the ballroom ‘cannot be built fast enough.’
‘While beautiful, it has every highest level security feature there is plus, there are no rooms sitting on top for unsecured people to pour in, and is inside the gates of the most secure building in the World, The White House,’ he added.
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WATCH: Gunshots heard at press dinner as Trump is evacuated from stage
Trump calls for ‘safe and secure’ ballroom at the White House
Donald Trump boldly claimed on Truth Social that the chaos that unfolded last night would not have happened if there were a ‘safe and secure’ ballroom at the White House.
‘It cannot be built fast enough! While beautiful, it has every highest level security feature there is plus, there are no rooms sitting on top for unsecured people to pour in, and is inside the gates of the most secure building in the World, The White House,’ he wrote.
‘Nothing should be allowed to interfere with with its construction, which is on budget and substantially ahead of schedule!!!’
Trump reveals Melania’s chilling words as gunshots rang out
Donald Trump has revealed what First Lady Melania Trump told him just after bullets were fired in the Washington Hilton Hotel during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
‘It’s always shocking when something like this happens,’ the President said at a White House press briefing in the West Wing within an hour of the violence.
‘The fact that we were sitting next to each other, the first lady on my right, and I heard a noise,’ Trump said, adding they thought ‘it was either a tray or a bullet.’
Kash Patel’s stunning reaction as shooter opened fire on White House Correspondents’ Dinner
FBI Director Kash Patel acted swiftly to protect others as shots rang out at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Chaos broke out inside the Washington Hilton after a shooter opened fire in the lobby around 8.15pm, prompting the Secret Service to rush into action, securing President Donald Trump and thousands of guests.
Patel, who was a guest of the Daily Mail alongside his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, immediately instructed others at the table to get down.
As reporters huddled on the floor and underneath the tables, Patel yelled ‘stay down.’
Daily Mail reporters in attendance reported hearing three to four shots and hearing Secret Service agents yelling to get down.
When it was safe to stand back up, Patel and Wilkins asked the reporters standing next to them if they were OK, and then were escorted out of the ballroom by his security detail.
White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter identified
The suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting has been identified as a California teacher.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California is the alleged shooter who opened fire at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night.
The educator from the Los Angeles area was quickly apprehended by law enforcement moments after breaching a security checkpoint. He faces firearms and assault charges.
Distraught Erika Kirk sobs ‘I want to go home’ as she is rushed to safety
Erika Kirk sobbed ‘I just want to go home’ as she was rushed to safety after a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The widow of Charlie Kirk was among the first to be evacuated from the Washington Hilton on Saturday night, not long after President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were bundled out.
The head of Turning Point USA was seen in floods of tears as she was flanked by what appeared to be two Secret Service agents.
White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman shoots agent as he storms building with Trump inside
Trump’s striking plea to Americans as he addressed shellshocked reporters still wearing their ball gowns only moments after ‘traumatic’ attack
Donald Trump has issued a stark rallying cry to Americans at a hastily convened press conference in the West Wing only moments after a gunman attacked the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
‘In light of tonight’s events I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts to resolving our differences peacefully,’ the president told reporters.
Most reporters had rushed over from the Hilton hotel which was hosting the dinner just over one mile away, with many still wearing their black tie and ball gowns from the ritzy gala.
The president praised what he described as ‘a tremendous amount of love and coming together’ on the aftermath of the shocking scenes, in which a member of the secret service was shot.
We heard pop, pop, pop, looked at the door… and waited under tables for the lunatic to unload: Inside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting
President Donald Trump was uninjured and other top leaders of the United States were evacuated from an annual dinner of White House correspondents on Saturday night after an unspecified threat. There did not immediately appear to be any injuries, and one law-enforcement official said a shooter had opened fire.
Authorities said the incident occurred outside the ballroom where Trump and other guests were seated. It was not immediately clear what happened. The event was scrapped and will be rescheduled.
The Daily Mail’s Nick Allen revealed what he saw from inside the Washington Hilton on Saturday evening.
Trump confirms agent shot by ‘sick’ gunman that stormed White House Correspondents’ Dinner
FBI agents and media arrive at the residence associated with Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner
Journalists in California knocked on the door of a house at an address connected to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect as FBI and other law enforcement showed up at the home in Torrance, California.
The house is believed to be associated with 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen, the suspected gunman who will face at least three charges in connection with the incident on Monday, US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro said Saturday evening.
Witnesses recount experience after shots fired at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
