By Ochiaka Ugwu
US President, Donald Trump was reported to be safe after he was rushed out of the White House correspondents’ dinner at the Hilton hotel following shots fired by gunman.
Trump has been rushed out of the White House correspondents’ dinner at a hotel in Washington, DC, after a gunman tried to breach security.
The US President, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and cabinet members were uninjured following the shooting at the Washington Hilton hotel.
A security service agent was hit – but protected by a bulletproof vest. Trump said he was in ‘great shape’.
The White House says the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California, is in custody. Trump said he was heavily armed and appeared to be acting alone.
The White House correspondents’ dinner will be rescheduled in 30 days.
The shooting happened when the president was hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Hilton Hotel on Saturday night.
The dinner is an annual tradition, where journalists who cover the White House celebrate the First Amendment and raise money for journalism scholarships, together with the president and other US leaders.
But the gala event was interrupted by the sudden sound of gunfire, and Secret Service agents whisked away the president and Vice President, JD Vance.
A man armed with a shotgun fired at a Secret Service agent, an FBI official told the Reuters news agency. The agent was hit, but in an area covered by protective gear and was unharmed, the official said.
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