'You just didn't know': Gary O'Donoghue describes confusion and fear at correspondents' dinner
Police say a man charged security outside of the dining room and was armed with multiple weapons.
Coverage by Political Leaning
See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story
Notable Quotes
"due to Washington changing its trade policies, Canada's economic ties to the US that were once a strength are now a 'weakness'."
— Mark Carney , Politician
"A loud bang of gun shots then, ‘Get down get down get down!’ I hit the floor at the White House correspondent’s dinner mid conversation with Jamie who heroically protected me whispering ‘your ok you’re. Ok."
— Kerry Kennedy , Activist
"my first thought was 'are we about to die?'"
— Oz Pearlman , Celebrity
"I can't gauge from him what happened to him"
— Oz Pearlman , Celebrity
"I was guessing what her unborn child's name was going to be"
— Oz Pearlman , Celebrity
"What the hell is the Secret Service doing?"
— Cole Thomas Allen , Other
"Like, the one thing that I immediately noticed walking into the hotel is the sense of arrogance."
— Cole Thomas Allen , Other
"Allen was a sick and very troubled guy."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"It’s always shocking when something like this happens."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"The people who make the biggest impact, those are the ones they go after."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"I guess."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"We’re talking about free speech in our constitution."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"I thought it was a tray going down."
— Donald Trump , Politician
Key People
Alleged gunman who attempted to attack the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Former president of the United States known for his aggressive economic policies.
Representative from Maryland.
Jared Moskowitz is a Democratic Representative from Florida.
A Democratic Senator from Pennsylvania.
Karoline Leavitt is the White House press secretary.
The former Chief of Staff for the Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense.
Daughter of slain Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
U.S. Secretary of State.
Mark Carney is the Prime Minister of Canada.
Mehmet Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon and television personality.
First Lady of the United States known for her social initiatives.
Mentalist performing at the dinner.
NASA astronaut who flew on the Artemis 2 mission.
Todd Blanche is the nominee for attorney general and a former personal lawyer to Donald Trump.
Weijia Jiang is a senior White House correspondent for CBS News.
Tags
All Coverage
Police say a man charged security outside of the dining room and was armed with multiple weapons.
Boston Globe journalists recount the frightening scene as President Trump and other leaders were evacuated amid reports of a shooter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
CBS News provides insights into the events inside the ballroom during the security incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, including the evacuation of President Trump.
An account of the events inside the ballroom during the 2026 White House Correspondents' Association dinner when a gunman attempted to breach the venue.
Cole Thomas Allen, a 31-year-old California educator, attempted to enter the White House Correspondents' Association dinner armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives. Shortly before the failed attack, Allen sent a manifesto to his family criticizing the event's security, describing it as shockingly lax and ineffective. He detailed his unimpeded journey across the U.S. and claimed he entered the Washington Hilton without encountering serious security measures, despite being heavily armed.
Armed police responded swiftly to a security scare at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, where shots were fired outside the ballroom, leading to the evacuation of President Trump and other officials.
A suspect armed with multiple weapons was charged after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, leading to the evacuation of President Trump and other top leaders.
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