Jimmy Kimmel is addressing the ongoing controversy over a recent comment he made that First Lady Melania Trump looks like an “expectant widow.” The president and top Republicans have called for Kimmel to be fired.
In a monologue on Monday night, the late-night host said that his joke, made on an episode days before the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, was being misinterpreted as a call to violence.
Kimmel told his audience today that the comment was about the president and first lady’s age difference.
“It was not, by any stretch...a call to assassination, and they know that I've been very vocal for many years speaking out against gun violence,” Kimmel said.
Earlier in the day, alleged Correspondents’ Dinner shooter Cole Tomas Allen appeared in federal court to face three charges.
The 31-year-old has not entered a plea, and more charges are expected in the days ahead.
The Torrance, California, man sent an email to family members describing his plot, listing his alleged targets in the Trump administration “prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest,” according to court documents.
Investigators are now probing crime scene evidence and Allen’s digital history for clues, officials say.
Allen is expected back in court on Thursday.
Key Points
- Cole Tomas Allen charged with attempting to assassinate president among other crimes
- Leavitt blames Democrats and ‘some’ media for legitimizing violent rhetoric
- Trump demands ABC and Disney fire Jimmy Kimmel
- Kimmel claims 'widow' joke was about Melania's age, not assassination
- Acting AG Todd Blanche says Trump officials were attacker's targets
- Recap: Suspect's timeline in Correspondents' Dinner attack
- How the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting unfolded
Recap: Suspect appears in court after storming White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Monday 27 April 2026 08:38 , Joe Sommerlad, Ariana BaioWelcome to The Independent’s U.S. politics liveblog.
If you’re just joining us, here’s a recap of our top story:
- A gunman attempted to storm the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel on Saturday night, with shots fired before he was apprehended by the Secret Service.
- President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, senior Cabinet officials and hundreds of journalists were in attendance at the event during the attack.
- One Secret Service agent was shot but was protected from serious injury by a bulletproof vest. The agent has since been discharged from the hospital.
- The suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old computer programmer from Torrance, California, appeared in federal court for the first time Monday. He’s been hit with three charges, including trying to assassinate the president.
- Allen allegedly called himself a "Friendly Federal Assassin" and had an anti-Trump manifesto, according to court documents.
- Trump called for the dinner to be held in the coming weeks as the White House revisits security protocols surrounding the president.
- As investigations into the shooting continued, King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived to Washington, D.C., on Monday, for a state visit.
Kimmel's joke part of campaign that 'helped legitimize' violence, White House press secretary says
06:02 , Stuti MishraWhite House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Jimmy Kimmel's joke on Melania and Donald Trump was part of a campaign of rhetoric from Democrats and some in the media that "has helped to legitimize this violence."
"Who in their right mind says a wife would be glowing over the potential murder of her beloved husband?" Leavitt said. There was no indication that Kimmel was referring to violence.
Her reaction comes after both president and first lady called for ABC to fire Kimmel on Monday after a joke last week in which the late-night comic described the first lady as having "the glow of an expectant widow."
ICYMI: Who is Cole Tomas Allen?
05:15 , Josh MarcusThe man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner appeared in court Monday, where he was charged with attempting to assassinate the president.
The dinner was thrown into chaos after the suspected lone gunman, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, allegedly rushed past security and fired at least one gunshot. The suspected shooter was targeting members of the Trump administration, he wrote in a message to family members before the attack, according to court documents.
President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and other members of the administration were taken from the Washington Hilton’s ballroom as guests scrambled for cover during the shocking incident. The suspect rushed security guards and opened fire, hitting a Secret Service agent. He was quickly subdued by officers and taken into custody.
No guests at the dinner were hurt. The event was subsequently canceled.
Allen, a 31-year-old computer engineer from California, has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president, as well as two weapons charges.
More details in our full story.
What we know about suspected White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman
Trump slams conspiracy theories after ‘Staged’ trends on social media following Correspondents’ Dinner shooting
05:00 , Josh MarcusDonald Trump has branded those who believe the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was staged as “sick.”
The incident unfolded on Saturday night, as the president attended the event for the first time since 2011. Baseless speculation about whether the shooting, which follows two assassination attempts against Trump in 2024, was staged blew up on social media shortly after.
The term “staged” was featured in more than 300,000 posts on X by midday Sunday, according to TweetBinder.
When asked on CBS News’60 Minutes about conspiracy theories swirling around the event, Trump initially said he had not heard about the online speculation.
More details in our full story.
Trump slams conspiracies after ‘Staged’ trends on social media following DC shooting
Jimmy Kimmel jokes he's 'pro-ballroom' now
04:52 , Josh MarcusJimmy Kimmel may be a reluctant supporter of President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project, he joked during his opening monologue on Monday.
“I might be pro-ballroom now, after this,” he said.
He added that if “anything terrible ever happens, at least they can dance” in Trump’s signature project.
Kimmel’s not the only one.
GOP now wants taxpayers to fund $400M Trump ballroom despite promise it would be free
Kimmel claims 'widow' joke was about Melania's age, not assassination
04:43 , Josh MarcusJimmy Kimmel is now offering a more detailed explanation of his “expectant widow” joke about the first lady, arguing it wasn’t related to violence at all.
The host said the joke, made days before Saturday’s Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, was “a joke about their age difference and the look of joy we see on her face every time they're together,” to laughs from the audience.
“It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he's almost 80 and she's younger than I am,” Kimmel added. “It was not, by any stretch...a call to assassination, and they know that I've been very vocal for many years speaking out against gun violence.”
“I understand that the first lady had a stressful experience over the weekend, and probably every weekend is pretty stressful, in that house,” he continued. “And also I agree that hateful and violent rhetoric is something we should reject. I do, and I think a great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband about it.”
'A lot' more charges coming in shooting investigation, Jeanine Pirro says
04:40 , Josh MarcusThe trio of current charges against Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen are just the beginning, according to the top Washington prosecutor.
“Make no mistake, this is just the beginning of this indictment, of these charges,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro told Fox News on Monday evening. “The indictment will include a lot more charges. We’ll know a lot more. Right now we have a solid case.”
Allen is currently charged with attempting to assassinate the president, as well as two weapons charges. He has not entered a plea.
Pirro added that the FBI is combing through Allen’s digital history looking for clues.
“There will be nothing that won’t be identified and discovered as it relates to his past actions with this digital footprint that we’re looking to establish right now,” she said.
Kimmel jokes about First Lady statement in opening monologue
04:39 , Josh MarcusJimmy Kimmel is live on air, and he looks set to address the ongoing controversy about his recent routine.
“Sometimes, you wake up in the morning and the First Lady puts out a statement, demanding you be fired from your job,” Kimmel began. “We've all been there, right?”
Trump echoes First Lady’s calls for ABC to ‘take a stand’ after Jimmy Kimmel’s joke
Republicans now want taxpayers to fund Trump’s $400 million ballroom
04:34 , Josh MarcusIn the wake of the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, top Republicans want to use $400 million in taxpayer funds on President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project, arguing the new building is vital for national security. This comes despite past promises from the president the ballroom would be entirely funded by private donations.
“It’s very difficult to have a bunch of important people in the same place unless it’s really, really secure,” Sen. Lindsey Graham told reporters on Monday. “The times in which we live are unusual. I’ve been up here for a while now. I’ve never felt the sense of threat that exists today.”
Graham and his GOP colleagues Sen. Eric Schmitt and Sen. Katie Britt are pushing a bill to fund the ballroom and offset costs by using customs and national parks user fees. The proposal includes building new military and Secret Service infrastructure within the ballroom complex.
Graham said the White House supports his effort, despite the president’s frequent claims that he and private donors were personally funding the entire ballroom project. The White House has previously said major tech corporations, including those that do business with the federal government and donated to Trump’s inauguration, have committed millions to funding the ballroom.
More details in our full story.
GOP now wants taxpayers to fund $400M Trump ballroom despite promise it would be free
Political violence 'worse than it's ever been' Bernie says, as Democrats call for committee on attacks
04:10 , Josh MarcusSen. Bernie Sanders agrees with conservatives who are alarmed with the ongoing spike in political violence in America.
"It’s clearly worse than it's ever been,” the Vermont senator told CNN on Monday. “The internet, the acrimony, the hatred, it’s unprecedented and it’s very dangerous and it’s tragic.”
His fellow progressive Rep. Ro Khanna has called for a bipartisan committee to study the problem.
Kimmel has 'fallen off the deep end' and should be fired, Lara Trump says
03:40 , Josh MarcusLara Trump is the latest prominent Republican to call for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired for making a joke about President Trump dying in office, in the wake of the recent Correspondents’ Dinner shooting
Kimmel, days before the event, joked that the first lady looked like an “expectant widow.”
Such comments infuriated prominent conservatives, including Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law.
“I mean, I just think that Jimmy Kimmel has really fallen off the deep end,” she told Fox News on Monday. “None of this is funny. Comedy isn’t funny anymore. Shows aren’t entertaining, movies aren’t entertaining anymore. Whenever you have to say things like that to engage your audience, you basically might as well exit stage left. I don’t think the American people want to see this sort of thing. Even the ones who didn’t vote for Donald Trump. So I agree with Melania and the President. I think Jimmy Kimmel needs to leave ABC.”
President Trump has now faced three apparent assassination attempts since 2024.
It would be 'big mistake' if ABC fires Kimmel over Trump death joke
03:10 , Josh MarcusABC would be making a “big mistake” if the network agrees with calls from Republicans to fire Jimmy Kimmel over a recent joke about Trump, according to the president’s former communications director, Anthony Scaramucci.
President Trump, the first lady, and their allies have called on the network to take Kimmel off the air, after he made a joke, prior to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, that Melania Trump looked like an “expectant widow.”
“I don’t understand the president on this because he could just lean into these jokes and relax about them,” Scaramucci told CNN on Monday night. “The brittleness I think is more about controlling corporate media, and so ABC would be making a big mistake if they fired him over something like that.”
“Also, when the president is tweeting out that he’s going to end civilizations, and then he’s upset about a joke that’s being made by a known late-night comedian who is writing jokes, I mean he should relax a little bit about that as well,” the first-term Trump official added. “If they fire him over this, they’re going to get another wave of boycotts like they got last time. It would be bad economics for them but it would also be bad practice for them in terms of not standing up to the White House once in a while.”
Here’s more info on the brewing Kimmel saga:
Trump echoes First Lady’s calls for ABC to ‘take a stand’ after Jimmy Kimmel’s joke
Investigators probe trove of extreme posts for clues on WHCD shooter's motive
02:40 , Josh MarcusInvestigators are reportedly hunting through scores of archived social media posts that may have been written by Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen.
The posts included messages calling President Trump a “sociopathic mob boss” and Republicans “Nazis,” The New York Times reports.
Last May, the poster, whose identity hasn’t been confirmed publicly, accused the government of “treasonous behavior,” a problem “that’s not fixable with laws.”
Sean Hannity calls out angry 'rhetoric' after Correspondents' Dinner shooting
02:20 , Josh MarcusFox News host Sean Hannity argues angry rhetoric is to blame for Saturday’s Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, which allegedly targeted White House officials.
“The rhetoric’s over the top,” he told TMZ. “How many times are we going to hear Nazi, fascist, racist, and all this nonsense? Disagree, don’t be that disagreeable. Get rid of the rage and hate, because unfortunately there are a lot of people that are unstable. There are a lot of people that could be influenced by what other people say.”
Hannity added that President Trump told him the night of the attack that the president wants to take part in another Correspondents’ Dinner within 30 days.
The Fox anchor’s comments echo those from Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who blamed criticism of the president from the media and Democrats for the attack.
Leavitt tees off on ‘crazed Democrats’ for WHCD shooting: ‘Cult of hatred’
Shooting suspect's views seen across radical social media posts: report
01:50 , Josh MarcusIn recent years, Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect Cole Allen reportedly descended into extremist views online, according a CNN analysis of his social media posts.
The 31-year-old from Torrance, California, reshared multiple posts compared President Trump to Hitler, as well as a post calling to nullify Trump’s 2024 election win.
Elsewhere, Allen reportedly retweeted a post speculating that the president was “quite capable of having staged a fake assassination attempt on himself to trick the American public.”
Oz the Mentalist reportedly pulls out of Kimmel appearance amid joke controversy
01:30 , Josh MarcusOz the Mentalist, who was slated to perform at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner before it was attacked, has reportedly pulled out of a planned Monday appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Kimmel is currently facing fierce criticism from the White House and allied conservatives over a joke he made last week, prior to the dinner, that the first lady looked like an “expectant window.”
The president and first lady have called for Kimmel to be taken off the air.
The mentalist has been replaced with liberal podcaster Jon Lovett, CNN reports.
'We're as confused as everyone': Suspect's church reacts to shooting
01:20 , Josh MarcusMembers of suspected Correspondents’ Dinner shooter Cole Tomas Allen’s church were stunned to learn that the mild-mannered computer science graduate they knew is accused of trying to assassinate the president.
“We’re as confused as everyone else,” pastor Moses Jambazian of United Reformed Church in Pasadena, California, told The Wall Street Journal. “It’s one of those classic cases where everything we knew about him was he was a great guy.”
Congregation member John Dewey told the paper the allegations against the 31-year-old Caltech grad left him “flabbergasted.”
“The talent he had, he probably could have lived a full, enjoyable, healthy life and done wondrous things for himself and other people, and he blew it,” Dewey said. “Not everybody’s gifted like that. If you are, you’ve got a lot of responsibilities, not only to yourself but to others.”
Attack on Correspondents' Dinner comes after 30-year high in anti-government violence
01:00 , Josh MarcusThe shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which investigators say explicitly aimed to kill senior Trump administration officials, is part of a disturbing uptick in political violence, according to experts.
In 2025, anti-government violence hit a 30-year high, according to Wall Street Journal analysis of Center for Strategic and International Studies data.
The White House has blamed Democrats and liberal critics at large for the threats against President Trump and others.
The data shows that between 1994 and 2024, the lion’s share of anti-government attacks were carried out by individuals with known right-wing ideals, though that trend flipped in 2025, amid a string of attacks against federal immigration agents and others.
Leavitt tees off on ‘crazed Democrats’ for WHCD shooting: ‘Cult of hatred’
Shooter would've 'never gotten in' if Trump had his White House ballroom: Lindsey Graham
Tuesday 28 April 2026 00:44 , Josh MarcusSen. Lindsey Graham is the latest Trump ally arguing that the president’s White House ballroom project is more necessary than ever after the recent shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Graham told reporters on Monday that while some initially thought the ballroom was a presidential “vanity project,” the plan actually fills a key security need.
“I’m convinced that if there had been a presidential ballroom adjacent to the White House, the guy would’ve never gotten in,” Graham said.
More details on the renewed push for the presidential ballroom:
Group refuses to drop Trump Ballroom lawsuit despite pressure from justice department
Katie Miller blames Gavin Newsom for WHCD attack
Tuesday 28 April 2026 00:40 , Josh MarcusKatie Miller, who is married to White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, is the latest Trump ally to blame the weekend shooting at the Correspondents’ Dinner on the Democrats.
“It’s no mistake that this man hails from the state of California, and that of [Governor] Gavin Newsom, who is one of the worst offenders of this violent political rhetoric that sparked this man’s imagination,” Miller said of suspect Cole Allen, who is from the Southern California city of Torrance.
Her comments echo remarks earlier today from Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who alleged that Democrats and the media have directed “hateful and constant and violent rhetoric” at the president.
Stephen Miller has been accused of overheated rhetoric himself, including calling an American protester killed by immigration agents a “domestic terrorist” and “assassin” shortly after his death.
Leavitt tees off on ‘crazed Democrats’ for WHCD shooting: ‘Cult of hatred’
'He kinda has a point': Stephen A. Smith backs call for White House to host WHCD after shooting
Tuesday 28 April 2026 00:16 , Josh MarcusIn the wake of the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the Trump administration reiterated its calls to build a new ballroom at the White House, arguing such a facility would be more secure for such high-profile events.
It even took the extraordinary step of having the Justice Department urge a preservation group to drop its ongoing lawsuit over the ballroom, a project the group has argued was commenced illegally because it lacked congressional approval.
Now, the administration has some unlikely support for its push from sports commentator Stephen A. Smith, who often criticizes the president.
Smith, in a Monday episode of his radio show Straight Shooter, said the president “kinda has a point” that such events need to take place at the White House.
“I don’t think it’s beyond the pale for the president of the United States to point out that the White House Correspondents’ Dinner should be at the White House,” Smith said. “Because that is clearly a more secure location than the Washington Hilton Hotel. It’s just a fact.”
Smith, who attended the dinner, went on to describe the fear of being in the room at the time of the shooting.
“I didn’t like being a grown a** adult at a White House Correspondents’ Dinner, with the presidents of networks and beyond, all in the same room, and watching thousands of people literally forced to duck for cover under tables and chairs, praying that a shooter wasn’t in the room just looking to spray gunfire in our direction.”
Group refuses to drop Trump Ballroom lawsuit despite pressure from justice department
Recap: Correspondents' Dinner suspect hit with three charges
Tuesday 28 April 2026 00:02 , Josh MarcusSuspected White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter Cole Tomas Allen is facing three federal charges for Saturday’s attack.
He’s accused of attempted presidential assassination, interstate transportation of a firearm to commit a felony, and firing a gun during a crime of violence.
The first charge is punishable by up to life in prison.
Prosecutors allege Allen began planning the shooting in early April, booking a stay at the Washington hotel where the Correspondents’ Dinner was taking place.
Prior to the shooting, he allegedly told family members of his goal to target high-ranking members of the Trump administration, according to court documents.
Allen came armed with a shotgun, pistol, and multiple knives, attempting to breach a security checkpoint on Saturday night outside the ballroom where the event was taking place a floor below.
Allen allegedly fired a shot as he ran through the screening stop, and at least one official at the checkpoint fired multiple shots in response.
One agent was hit in the chest during the encounter, but was wearing a bulletproof vest and escaped relatively unharmed. Allen was arrested without any major injuries.
The California man did not enter a plea during his first appearance in court on Monday.
He’s due back in court Thursday for a hearing on whether he will be kept in detention.
Did the Secret Service fail to protect the president?
Monday 27 April 2026 23:48 , Josh MarcusThe gunman who tried to storm into the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner exposed gaps that need to be closed to prevent future attacks, former Secret Service agents say.
"The system worked. Could it be much better? Yes," Bobby McDonald, who protected then-presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, told The Independent on Monday. "We had a positive outcome, not a successful one."
With President Donald Trump insisting that the event be rescheduled "within 30 days," McDonald said the the Secret Service would have to quickly develop ideas to beef up security.
"I think they have to have some discussions about creativity," he said. "They're going to have to blow up their plan."
Bruce Golding has the story.
Ex-Secret Service agents see security gaps after Correspondents’ Dinner attack
The View co-host calls out conspiracy theories over White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting
Monday 27 April 2026 23:20 , Josh MarcusThe View co-host Ana Navarro is pushing back on conspiracy theories that are swirling in the aftermath of the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
During Monday’s Hot Topics segment of ABC’s daytime talk show, Navarro and her fellow panelists shared their reactions to learning that gunfire had erupted at Saturday’s annual black-tie event at the Washington Hilton. The sound of shots being fired prompted President Donald Trump and other executive members of his administration to be rushed out of the room while Secret Service agents apprehended the suspected shooter, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, who has now been charged with attempting to assassinate the president.
Navarro said that after the shock of the alleged attack wore off, she became disturbed by rampant online speculation that the shooting had been “staged” by the Trump administration.
“I don’t think that,” she said during Monday’s show. “Let me just be clear. I don’t think that.”
Carsen Holaday reports.
The View co-host calls out conspiracy theories over WHCD shooting
Megyn Kelly is latest conservative who wants Jimmy Kimmel punished
Monday 27 April 2026 23:05 , Josh MarcusJimmy Kimmel continues to face anger from prominent figures on the right for joking that the first lady looked like an “expectant widow” just days before the White House Correspondents’ dinner attack, which allegedly targeted the president.
The president and first lady have called for Kimmel to be fired, and conservative broadcaster Megyn Kelly echoed this stance during a Monday episode of The Megyn Kelly Show.
“Balls in your court ABC,” Kelly said. “You’re not going to be able to ignore this. You’re not going to be able to ignore both the president and the first lady.”
“Do the right thing,” she added.
She claimed Kimmel’s comments were “sick” and a “truly pernicious” influence on the country, given that the president has already faced multiple attempts on his life.
Kelly added that she thought Kimmel “would’ve learned” from a controversy last year, in which he was briefly taken off the air after conservative outrage over his comments about the killing of the activist Charlie Kirk.
Trump echoes First Lady’s calls for ABC to ‘take a stand’ after Jimmy Kimmel’s joke
Jane Fonda's free speech group rallies to Jimmy Kimmel's defense in Melania joke controversy
Monday 27 April 2026 22:49 , Josh MarcusAs conservatives and members of the Trump administration call for Jimmy Kimmel’s firing, a prominent actor and activist is rallying to his defense.
Kimmel angered the right for making a joke, days before the White House Correspondents’ Dinner attack, that First Lady Melania Trump looked like an “expectant window.”
When the bit resurfaced after the shooting on Saturday, the first lady and president sharply criticized Kimmel, calling on ABC to fire the late-night host.
The Committee for the First Amendment, led by Jane Fonda, meanwhile, is urging the network to stand firm.
“In America, satire is not a crime,” the group said in a statement to NBC News. “The right to mock, to challenge, and yes, to offend those in power, is foundational to democracy. From late-night television to political cartoons, comedy has long served as a powerful tool to expose hypocrisy, provoke debate, and drive accountability.”
“This is a test — of ABC, of the press, and of our collective commitment to the First Amendment,” the statement added. “The pressure is real. The intent is unmistakable. But we have been here before, and we know what is required from all of us. Speak up. Push back. Do not capitulate. Do not be silent.”
More details on the controversy here:
Jimmy Kimmel slammed on social media over Melania Trump ‘widow’ joke
READ: Court documents reveal attack suspect's target list
Monday 27 April 2026 22:38 , Josh Marcus
White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen allegedly sent an email to family members and a former employer explaining his plot against the Trump administration, according to investigators.
The message, sent before the shooting took place, was revealed in full in court documents on Monday.
“I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,” he allegedly wrote in the message, which included a ranked list of targets in the administration.
You can read the full FBI affidavit against Allen here.
Trump administration pressure after shooting won't stop ballroom lawsuit
Monday 27 April 2026 22:43 , Josh MarcusPreservationists are moving ahead with their lawsuit challenging the construction of President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom – even after the Justice Department pressured them into dropping it.
Trump’s Justice Department urged the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued in December to stop the construction, to dismiss its lawsuit by Monday morning.
Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate cited the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner as reason to build the ballroom, calling the Washington Hilton where it was held “demonstrably unsafe” in a letter published Sunday.
Schumate wrote that a ballroom at the White House, “will ensure the safety and security of the President for decades to come and prevent future assassination attempts on the President at the Washington Hilton.”
However, the trust said it will not be dropping the suit. Carol Quillen, who heads the trust, said that she was “grateful” the president and guests at the gala were safe, before adding, “We are not planning to voluntarily dismiss our lawsuit, which endangers no one and which respectfully asks the Administration to follow the law.”
Isabel Keane has the details.
Group refuses to drop Trump Ballroom lawsuit despite pressure from justice department
Everybody Loves Raymond star urges ‘friends on the left’ to tone down rhetoric after White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting
Monday 27 April 2026 22:25 , Josh MarcusPatricia Heaton is calling on left-leaning people to abandon divisive rhetoric after the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.
President Donald Trump, Melania Trump and several members of Trump’s administration were rushed out of the annual event Saturday while attendees sheltered in place after gunfire erupted at the Washington Hilton. Suspect Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was taken into custody after allegedly shooting a Secret Service agent who was injured and later released from the hospital. No one else was hurt in the incident, according to police.
The security scare predictably sparked online debates about what led up to the attack, with MAGA warriors blaming anti-Trump media while critics speculated over unfounded conspiracy theories.
On Sunday, Heaton — known for her roles on sitcoms Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle — weighed in on the discourse by pleading for one side to cool down.
Carsen Holaday has the story.
Everybody Loves Raymond star issues plea to ‘friends on the left’ after shooting
Hakeem Jeffries accuses White House of ignoring violence against Democrats in calls to tone down rhetoric
Monday 27 April 2026 22:12 , Josh MarcusHouse Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries tore into the White House after Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed rhetoric from elected Democrats and the media for the repeated violent threats against Donald Trump in recent years.
The New York congressman, speaking to reporters on Monday, argued Leavitt and the Trump administration were both ignoring the numerous recent violent threats against Democrats and inflaming violence overall by taking actions such as pardoning January 6 rioters, one of whom later threatened to kill Jeffries.
“How can we take them seriously when they raise these partisan attacks?” Jeffries said.
“This so-called White House Press Secretary wants to lecture America, and lecture us about civility?” he continued. “Get lost, clean up your own house."
From ‘speech of love’ to ‘you’re a disgrace’: Trump's changing tone on media after attack
Monday 27 April 2026 22:00 , Josh MarcusOver the course of American history, a few undelivered presidential speeches have taken on iconic status in the decades after they were supposed to have been given.
There’s the address John F. Kennedy would have delivered in defense of American soft power as a bulwark against communism and authoritarian threats, in which he would have declared that there was “no better form of investment in our national security” than foreign aid and warned that American leadership was dependent on global “respect for our mission in the world.”
There was Richard Nixon’s planned address to the nation in the event that Apollo 11’s lunar module engine failed to light, stranding astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin — “the men who went to the moon to explore in peace” — to “stay on the moon to rest in peace.”
And of course, there’s the “speech of love” to the American news media that Donald Trump says he would have delivered had Saturday’s White House Correspondents Dinner been allowed to resume after a gunman attempted to sprint through layers of security in a failed attempt to assassinate the president and the senior officials who were scattered around the cavernous ballroom at the Washington, D.C. Hilton.
In the run-up to the weekend’s marquee event — an annual fundraiser for scholarships administered by the White House Correspondents Association — media critics and political pundits spilled what would have probably been hundreds of gallons of ink in a pre-digital era on the propriety of the press breaking bread with a man who has spent years demonizing them as “the enemy of the people.”
Andrew Feinberg has this analysis on what the president’s saying now — and the speech he never delivered.
Trump goes from ‘speech of love’ to ‘you’re a disgrace’ in 24-hour media whiplash
More details on suspect's timeline and alleged intent in Correspondents' Dinner attack
Monday 27 April 2026 21:50 , Josh MarcusInvestigators say they have a detailed picture of Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect Cole Allen’s movements in the run-up to the attempted attack.
In early April, just over a month after President Donald Trump announced he would attend the event, Allen allegedly made a reservation at the Washington Hilton, where the dinner eventually took place.
Allen reserved a three-night stay at the hotel that included Saturday, the night of the dinner.
Beginning on April 21, he traveled from his home near Los Angeles to Chicago then on towards Washington.
Once inside the hotel, Allen allegedly waited for the president and first lady to arrive.
“He is very much aware that the president and the first lady entered the ballroom at 8 p.m., and it was at 8:40 that he made a decision to rush the ballroom,” Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, told reporters on Monday.
The attack was intended to target high-ranking Trump administration officials, she said, based on evidence found in writings Allen allegedly made about his plan.
“At the end, make no mistake, he says, I am targeting the administration officials,” Pirro added, paraphrasing the alleged message. “They are my targets, and I'm prioritizing from the top down, the highest ranking from the lowest, and I will not hesitate to get involved in any kind of encounter with anyone who blocks me from the President.”
White House Correspondents’ Dinner suspect sent anti-Trump manifesto to family
D.C. Hilton donates thousands of unserved meals after White House Correspondents' Dinner attack
Monday 27 April 2026 21:40 , Josh Marcus
The Washington, D.C., Hilton hotel, which hosted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, donated thousands of high-end meals that went unserved after this weekend’s attempted attack disrupted the event.
“The Hilton donated the ~2600 dinners that went unserved at WHCD,” White House Correspondents’ Association president Weijia Jiang wrote on X on Monday. “They freeze dried the steak and lobster for longer shelf life before giving them to 2 shelters for abused women and children. HUGE thank you to the staff that worked through the night under terrible circumstances.”
Donald Trump echoes Melania Trump’s calls for ABC to ‘take a stand’ after Jimmy Kimmel’s ‘widow’ joke
Monday 27 April 2026 21:30 , Caitlin HornickDonald Trump has waded into the controversy surrounding a resurfaced Jimmy Kimmel joke about First Lady Melania Trump.
The days-old Kimmel joke emerged on social media following the Saturday shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Last week, during Thursday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host parodied the dinner in advance, delivering his own alternative comedy monologue as the event’s emcee. Among the gags, Kimmel joked that Melania had the glow of an “expectant widow.”
Read more here:
Trump echoes First Lady’s calls for ABC to ‘take a stand’ after Jimmy Kimmel’s joke
How the Correspondents' Dinner shooting changes the DHS funding fight
Monday 27 April 2026 21:20 , Josh MarcusWashington is still reeling from Saturday, when a gunman opened fire on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The coming weeks will inevitably create a political tit-for-tat. Republicans have begun to point the finger at Democrats, with some blaming House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for vowing, “Maximum warfare all the time,” even though, as our friend Jamie Dupree pointed out, he borrowed it from an aide close to the president.
Set that aside. The fact remains that a gunman got dangerously close to President Donald Trump less than two years after a bullet grazed his ear.
Many people on all sides pointed out just how close to the president and how few security protocols were in place. Expect Congress to open multiple inquiries into the Secret Service, security staff and the Washington Hilton. FBI Director Kash Patel, who was on thin ice before the shooting and who attended the dinner, will face a make-or-break moment for his stewardship of the agency.
Eric Garcia has this analysis on what comes next.
Trump shooting attempt puts heat on Mike Johnson and Republicans to fund DHS — now
WATCH: Donald Trump and Melania welcome King Charles and Queen Camilla to White House
Monday 27 April 2026 21:06 , Josh Marcus
Trump spokeswoman Leavitt tees off on ‘crazed Democrats’ for White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting: ‘Cult of hatred’
Monday 27 April 2026 20:57 , Josh MarcusLess than 48 hours after President Donald Trump praised the “unified” reaction of journalists who’d been present when a gunman attempted to storm the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed top Democrats and the American press for the attempted assassination.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Leavitt blamed the latest instance of political violence in the U.S. on what she called “systemic demonization of [Trump] and his supporters by commentators, by elected members of the Democrat Party and even some in the media.”
“This hateful and constant and violent rhetoric directed at President Trump, day after day after day for 11 years, has helped to legitimize this violence and bring us to this dark moment,” said Leavitt, who argued that Americans “who constantly falsely label and slander the President as a fascist, as a threat to democracy and compare him to Hitler” are “fueling” violence as part of a “left wing cult of hatred against the president and all of those who support him and work for him.”
Continuing, Leavitt read off a laundry list of critical comments about the president by members of the Democratic Party in Congress and blamed “the entire Democrat Party” for having “pitch to voters across the country that Donald Trump poses an existential threat to democracy, that he is a fascist.”
Andrew Feinberg reports.
Leavitt tees off on ‘crazed Democrats’ for WHCD shooting: ‘Cult of hatred’
At least six shots fired in Correspondents' Dinner attack
Monday 27 April 2026 20:46 , Josh MarcusOfficials are providing more details about this weekend’s Correspondents’ Dinner attack.
Suspect Cole Tomas Allen approached a security checkpoint around 8:40 p.m. the night of the dinner “holding a long gun,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said at a press conference on Monday.
“As he did so, U.S. Secret Service personnel assigned to the checkpoint heard a loud gunshot,” he added.
A security official at the checkpoint then fired their weapon at least five times.
Allen was not hit but fell to the ground, where he was arrested.
An official at the checkpoint was shot in the encounter, but their bulletproof vest prevented any serious injury. Allen’s knee was scraped during his clash with officers, officials said.
Ballistics are “not an exact science,” Blanche added, saying further information could arise about how many shots were fired and by whom.
Attorney general hammers media after WHCD attack
Monday 27 April 2026 20:36 , Josh MarcusThe Trump administration continues to slam the media after this weekend’s Correspondents’ Dinner attack, linking journalistic criticism of the president to the threat against his life.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, during a press conference on Monday, argued many in the media are on par with overheated social media posters making false claims that drive the overall climate of instability in America.
“They're just as guilty as a lot of people on X, when you have when you have reporters, when you have media, just being overly critical and calling the president horrible names for no reason and without evidence, without proof,” he said.
The president previously said Democratic “hate speech” was driving violence in America.
'This one hits a little differently,' FBI director says of WHCD shooting
Monday 27 April 2026 20:32 , Josh MarcusSaturday’s attack on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is especially striking, FBI Director Kash Patel said at a press conference on Monday, given the president’s planned message of “unity” at the event.
“This one hits a little differently,” Patel said. “We were all there.”
Interviews in the investigation are ongoing, he added, and FBI teams have collected shell casings on scene.
“Agents sprung into action, got out of bed and haven't slept since,” he said.
Trump administration details charges against Correspondents' Dinner shooter
Monday 27 April 2026 20:24 , Josh MarcusCole Tomas Allen, the 31-year-old teacher accused of attempting to attack Trump administration officials at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, has been hit with three charges in federal court, including trying to assassinate the president.
“[Violence] cannot and will not be used to disrupt democratic institutions and intimidate those who serve them, and it certainly cannot continue to be used against the president of the United States,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said at a press conference on Monday.
“The facts make it very clear what his intent was,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said at the press conference.
Watch Live: Live: DOJ holds press conference after suspected gunman appears in court
Monday 27 April 2026 20:00 , Independent VideoSuspected gunman will appear again Thursday
Monday 27 April 2026 19:50 , Ariana BaioAllen will appear before the District of Columbia federal court again Thursday morning to determine if he is eligible for pre-trial release.
A magistrate judge has set a preliminary hearing date for May 11.
Allen allegedly had shotgun, handgun and knives on him
Monday 27 April 2026 19:36 , Ariana BaioCole Allen is accused of showing up to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner with a 12-gauge pump action shotgun, a .38 caliber semi-automatic handgun and three knives, a prosecutor told the court Monday afternoon.
Justice Department officials will hold press conference
Monday 27 April 2026 19:15 , Ariana BaioActing Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel will hold a 3 p.m. ET press conference to give updates on the suspected gunman who fired shots at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday evening.
Allen charged with attempting to assassinate president among other crimes
Monday 27 April 2026 19:14 , Ariana BaioCole Tomas Allen is being charged with attempting to assassinate the president, transportation of a firearm in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony and the use of a firearm in a crime of violence.
Trump demands ABC and Disney fire Jimmy Kimmel
Monday 27 April 2026 19:00 , Ariana BaioThe president demanded, Monday, that Disney and ABC fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after he joked about the first lady in a mock-White House Correspondents’ Dinner standup routine during his monologue last week.
In a Truth Social post, the president said Kimmel had made a “despicable call to violence” during his show’s monologue the night before the annual dinner.
Kimmel’s monologue, in which he pretended to host the Correspondents’ Dinner, took place Thursday evening. During it, he joked that First Lady Melania Trump had “a glow like an expectant widow.”
The timing of the joke has angered the president, first lady and Trump allies who believe Kimmel’s remarks were out of line because a gunman attempted to storm the dinner and assassinate top administration officials.
“This is something far beyond the pale,” Trump wrote. Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC.”
Suspected gunman's first appearance in court begins
Monday 27 April 2026 18:55 , Ariana BaioCole Allen, the 31-year-old man accused of storming the White House Correspondents’ Dinner armed with firearms to assassinate administration officials, is in federal court.
Allen is making his first appearance in the District of Columbia federal court before Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh.
White House claims alleged shooter’s manifesto was ‘indistinguishable’ from anti-Trump rhetoric
Monday 27 April 2026 18:39 , Ariana BaioDuring the White House press briefing, Leavitt insisted the “manifesto” that the suspected White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman left behind was nearly identical to anti-Trump rhetoric that floats online and in the media.
“When you read the manifesto of this shooter, ask yourselves, how different is the rhetoric of the almost-assassinated than what you read on social media and hear in various forums every single day,” Leavitt began.
The answer, if you’re being honest with yourself, is that there is no difference at all. Much of the manifesto of the would-be assassin is indistinguishable from the words we hear daily from so many.”
Suspected gunman will appear in court momentarily
Monday 27 April 2026 18:34 , Ariana BaioThe 31-year-old California man accused of storming the White House Correspondents’ Dinner armed with firearms is expected to appear in court in the next several minutes for his first appearance.
Leavitt blames Democrats and ‘some’ media for legitimizing violent rhetoric
Monday 27 April 2026 18:28 , Ariana BaioThe White House press secretary accused elected Democrats, online commentators and some media of inciting political violence against Trump with “hateful and constant violent rhetoric.”
“This political violence stems from a systemic demonization from him and his supporters by commentators, yes, by elected members of the Democrat Party and even some from the media,” Leavitt said during the White House press briefing Monday afternoon.
White House press secretary says Trump’s calm was ‘remarkable’
Monday 27 April 2026 18:10 , Ariana BaioWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt began Monday’s press briefing by recalling how President Donald Trump remained calm during the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Leavitt, who was seated next to the president, said Trump’s calm was “really remarkable to witness.”
Security on high alert in Washington D.C. ahead of royal visit to the White House
Monday 27 April 2026 17:59 , Ariana Baio
Trump reassures U.K. royals about safety ahead of U.S. visit
Monday 27 April 2026 17:50 , Ariana BaioPresident Donald Trump told 60 Minutes in an interview that King Charles will be “very safe” at the White House.
The king is starting his four-day state visit to the United States Monday with Queen Camilla amid a tense security situation after the president was targeted by a would-be assassin at the White House Correspondents’ dinner in Washington D.C. Saturday evening.
"The White House grounds are really safe... He's a great guy. They called, and they are so looking forward to being here. We spoke this morning,” Trump told the CBS show Sunday.
Trump's security scrutinized ahead of upcoming high-profile public events
Monday 27 April 2026 17:40 , Associated PressFederal law enforcement officials are evaluating how to proceed with some high-profile public events featuring President Donald Trump after the attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The third violent assault in the vicinity of Trump in less than two years is renewing the central tension confronting the Republican president’s defenders: how to accommodate the public-facing demands of the presidency while minimizing the risk of an attack.
Saturday’s episode, in which a man armed with guns and knives tried to storm the Washington hotel ballroom where the president was set to address the White House Correspondents’ Association, comes ahead of Trump’s expected participation in a stretch of large, high-profile events indoors and outdoors in the months ahead. Among them, he’s set to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary, oversee the U.S. co-hosting the World Cup and lead rallies meant to galvanize support for Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Suspected shooter targeted high-ranking administration officials, other than Patel
Monday 27 April 2026 17:18 , Ariana BaioThe suspected gunman left behind a note indicating he was targeting high-ranking administration officials except FBI Director Kash Patel, according to reports.
The email, which the alleged shooter sent to family members before the black-tie dinner, said “administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are the targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest,” the writing, obtained first by the New York Post, said.
It’s unclear why Patel was mentioned by name, but other administration officials were not.
Watch: Ex-Secret Service agent says Trump should have fewer cabinet members at events in wake of DC shooting
Monday 27 April 2026 17:00 , Independent VideoWhite House officials meeting to discuss security protocol at events: report
Monday 27 April 2026 16:20 , Ariana BaioTop officials in the White House are reportedly meeting this week with senior members of the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security to discuss security protocol at events going forward, White House officials told PBS.
After a suspected gunman rushed through security checkpoints at the Washington Hilton Hotel, armed with weapons, as the White House Correspondents Dinner was underway, officials are re-evaluating security.
The upcoming meeting will examine security steps that have been successful as well as “additional options” for future events, people familiar with the matter told PBS.
Melania Trump slams Jimmy Kimmel, asks ABC to ‘take a stand’
Monday 27 April 2026 15:49 , Ariana BaioFirst Lady Melania Trump lashed out at late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on X Monday morning, calling his behavior “atrocious” for cracking jokes about the first lady, Jeffrey Epstein and more in a monologue that aired Friday, before the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
Two nights before the event, Kimmel parodied the dinner speech in a monologue that joked about Epstein introducing Melania and Donald Trump – something the first lady vehemently disputes – as well as Melania becoming “an expectant widow.”
“Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America,” Melania Trump wrote on X.
Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America.
— First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) April 27, 2026
People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to…
ID was not needed to get into the dinner
Monday 27 April 2026 15:23 , Ariana BaioDespite attending a high-profile event featuring the president of the United States, attendees did not need to show physical identification to enter the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday evening.
Reporters with The Independent who attended the dinner said they were asked to show their dinner tickets, but were never asked to show ID.
The hotel dinner security protocol has raised questions about the ability of a 31-year-old man to rush the security checkpoint armed with multiple firearms – not far from the room where the president and other high-ranking officials were seated.
White House adds 1pm press briefing
Monday 27 April 2026 15:03 , Ariana BaioWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced this morning there would be a press briefing at 1 p.m.
In Photos: Law enforcement investigate home associated with suspected shooter
Monday 27 April 2026 14:55 , Ariana Baio
What to know about suspected shooter’s arraignment
Monday 27 April 2026 14:43 , Ariana BaioThe man accused of unleashing gunfire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is set to be arraigned in the District of Columbia federal court today.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, will make his first appearance on charges that have not been formally filed yet, but that U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said would consist of assault of a federal officer and using a firearm during a crime of violence.
Potential other charges could include attempted assassination, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated. However, those are still under investigation.
Acting Attorney General doesn’t confirm if there was a designated survivor
Monday 27 April 2026 14:32 , Ariana BaioThe president, vice president, speaker of the House and many other officials in the direct presidential line of succession were all in attendance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner – but it’s unclear whether there was a designated survivor.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to comment on whether there was a designated survivor for the annual black-tie dinner when asked by CBS News this weekend.
“All those folks were in their room and more, and yet we were all safe. Law enforcement did their jobs,” Blanche said.
A designated survivor is an official in the line of succession who is kept at a distance from an event attended by other officials if there is a mass casualty. Notably, there is a designated survivor for the State of the Union address and presidential inaugurations.
First Lady has long been concerned about security
Monday 27 April 2026 14:03 , Ariana BaioFirst Lady Melania Trump has been consistently worried about security around her family since her husband, President Donald Trump, was nearly assassinated in Butler, Pennsylvania, before the 2024 election.
The first lady was visibly shaken in the White House Briefing Room after the shooting at the Washington Hilton at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday evening, CNN reported.
The president seemed to acknowledge his wife’s concerns during his briefing, saying it was “a rather traumatic experience” for Melania Trump, who has maintained a relatively low profile even while serving in one of the highest positions in the United States.
In her documentary, Melania, the first lady raised security concerns while planning for the inaugural ball, asking how officials plan to secure the area given the two assassination attempts on her husband’s life.
UFC boss Dana White brags he refused to duck for cover while calling shooting attack: ‘F***ing awesome’
Monday 27 April 2026 13:30 , Joe SommerladThe combat sport impresario, a good friend of the president, had this to say about his experience of Saturday night: “It started to get noisy. Tables started getting flipped over, guys running with guns and they were screaming, ‘Get down!’ I didn’t get down. It was f***ing awesome and I literally took every minute of it in.”
Here’s Paul Farrell’s report.
Dana White brags he refused to duck for cover during correspondents’ shooting
Analysis: Why the King’s soft power will be more important than ever in wake of shooting
Monday 27 April 2026 13:10 , Joe SommerladLooking ahead to other events today, King Charles is embarking on his four-day visit to the United States, with his arrival in Washington given the go-ahead Sunday after talks about his security were held in light of the drama at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Here’s our world affairs editor Sam Kiley on his majesty and the sensitivity of the moment.
Why the King’s soft power will be more important than ever in wake of shooting
Watch: Oz Pearlman reveals what he was showing Melania Trump as shots were fired at Correspondents' Dinner
Monday 27 April 2026 12:50 , Joe SommerladThe mentalist who was hired as the evening’s entertainment and was pictured speaking to the first lady when the shots rang out has given his account of what happened to CNN’s Dana Bash.
Recap: Erika Kirk hid under table after gunfire erupted at correspondents’ dinner: ‘I just want to go home’
Monday 27 April 2026 12:30 , Joe SommerladA sobbing Erika Kirk – who lost her husband, Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, to gun violence last year – was seen being ushered out of the Washington Hilton in the wake of Saturday night’s shooting.
CNN’s Sara Sidner posted a clip of Kirk hurriedly walking from the ballroom, choking up and saying: “I just want to go home.”
Paul Farrell has more.
Erika Kirk hid under table after gunfire erupted at correspondents’ dinner
Trump slams conspiracy theories as ‘staged’ trends after Correspondents’ Dinner shooting
Monday 27 April 2026 12:10 , Joe SommerladThe president has addressed the instant conspiracy theories that have been swirling around the internet concerning Saturday night’s events, with many commentators alleging they were “staged” to invite sympathy for Trump amid sagging poll numbers, ongoing economic concern and the deep unpopularity of his Iran war.
“I think they’re more sick than they are con people,” the president told Norah O’Donnell on 60 Minutes, referring to the conspiracy theorists.
“But there’s a lot of con in there too.”
Owen Scott takes a closer look.
Trump slams conspiracies as ‘Staged’ trends after Correspondents’ Dinner shooting
Recap: Suspect sent anti-Trump manifesto to his family before opening fire
Monday 27 April 2026 11:50 , Joe SommerladEric Garcia has more here on the political tract Allen sent to his family shortly before his attempted assault on the Correspondents’ Dinner, in which he chillingly referred to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin.”
White House Correspondents’ Dinner suspect sent anti-Trump manifesto to family
Trump back to business as usual on Truth Social
Monday 27 April 2026 11:30 , Joe SommerladThe president’s latest posts on his social media platform suggest a reversion to business as usual, with him congratulating country singer Lee Greenwood (the man behind the perennial Trump rally anthem “God Bless the U.S.A.”) on the birth of his first grandchild.
“Lee and Kim Greenwood, two of the most spectacular people, had their first grandchild on April 17th. They were with me from the very beginning - Total loyalty, and Lee gave me the greatest walk on song of all time, nothing even close!!! Congratulations to you both!!!”
He also responds “GREAT IDEA!!! DO IT” to another user who suggests that his federal immigration troops should be renamed NICE, instead of ICE, to stand for National Immigration and Customs Enforcement “so the media has to say NICE agents all day everyday.”
Trump blames ‘very dangerous hate speech of the Democrats’ for political violence
Monday 27 April 2026 11:10 , Joe SommerladThe president also took the opportunity during his CBS interview to blame the opposition for their rhetoric inspiring political violence, risking exactly the sort of partisan division he was warning against by not holding conservatives equally accountable.
Owen Scott reports.
Trump blames ‘very dangerous hate speech of the Democrats’ for political violence
Trump calls journalist ‘horrible person’ for confronting him with suspect’s alleged manifesto
Monday 27 April 2026 10:50 , Joe SommerladThe president angrily took issue with CBS reporter Norah O’Donnell during his 60 Minutes interview last night after she presented him with accusations made in the political tract investigators said was written by Cole Tomas Allen.
“I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,” O’Donnell read aloud, quoting Allen, causing Trump to bristle.
“I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would, because you’re horrible people,” the president answered. “Horrible people. Yeah, he did write that. I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody… I’m not a pedophile.”
He continued, alluding to accusations associated with long-running the Jeffrey Epstein scandal: “You read that crap from some sick person. I got associated with stuff that has nothing to do with me. I was totally exonerated.
“You should be ashamed of yourself for reading that, because I’m not any of those things. You shouldn’t be reading that on 60 Minutes. You’re a disgrace.”
The president has long denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and has never been formally accused of a crime relating to the late pedophile.
This is what else Trump had to say in his CBS interview:
Why Trump, MAGA and Fetterman say Correspondents’ Dinner shooting seals deal for $400M White House ballroom
Monday 27 April 2026 10:30 , Joe SommerladThe president of the United States, his conservative allies, and even a Senate Democrat have pressed the case for his $400 million East Wing ballroom construction in the hours after a shooting at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner left nearly the entire cabinet and D.C. press corps ducking for cover minutes into the event.
For months, the construction of Trump’s desired White House ballroom has made headlines and even seemed to consume the president’s attention during unrelated events, where Trump will often go on diatribes about the construction process or building plans. A federal judge halted the project earlier this month, while allowing construction of a secure bunker on the White House complex to continue.
Trump had the residence’s iconic East Wing demolished without warning to make room for the structure.
But Saturday evening’s chaos added a new twinge of urgency to the president’s statements and elicited a wave of new calls for the event space’s construction on the White House’s grounds from supporters of the president, many of whom had previously ignored or shied away from defending what Democrats call a grift-filled vanity project.
John Bowden reports.
Why Trump and MAGA say correspondents’ shooting seals deal for $400M ballroom
Watch: Eyewitness describes panic after gunshots heard at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Monday 27 April 2026 10:10 , Joe SommerladSuspect Cole Tomas Allen due in court today
Monday 27 April 2026 09:50 , Joe SommerladJeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C, has said the suspect will be charged on two counts: use of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
Pirro said that the defendant would be arraigned Monday in federal court at 1 p.m. local time.
He is currently being held in a police jail cell around half-a-mile from the Washington Hilton.
If convicted of both counts, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
Here’s a full report on everything we know about Allen from Mike Bedigan and Paul Farrell.
What we know about suspected White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman
Watch: Moment Trump is rushed off the stage after shots at White House Correspondents' Dinner
Monday 27 April 2026 09:30 , Joe SommerladGunfire, chaos, and a defiant Trump: How the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting unfolded
Monday 27 April 2026 09:10 , Joe SommerladHere’s Maira Butt with a minute-by-minute timeline detailing precisely how Saturday night’s shocking events played out.
Moment-by-moment breakdown of how Trump dinner shooting unfolded
Turkey's Erdogan offers support to Trump in call after gala dinner shooting
Monday 27 April 2026 08:07 , Namita SinghTurkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered his support for US president Donald Trump in a phone call following a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, the Turkish presidency said late on Sunday.
"Erdogan said he saw the incident as a heinous act against democracy and press freedom," the presidency said in a statement on X.
Earlier, Erdogan had condemned the incident in a separate statement on X, saying he was happy that Trump and first lady Melania Trump were unharmed.
Trump lashes out at CBS News for quoting from suspect’s manifesto
Monday 27 April 2026 08:05 , Namita SinghUS president Donald Trump lashed out at CBS News yesterday, calling it “disgraceful” for quoting from the suspect's manifesto on 60 Minutes on Sunday.
Shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, is alleged to have sent an anti-Trump manifesto to his family members moments before the shooting, calling himself the “Friendly Federal Assassin”.
“I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,” the letter read.
Trump took issue with the CBS News interviewer for bringing up the manifesto, before declaring: “I’m not a pedophile” and “I’m not a rapist”.
Video: Trump says King Charles will be 'very safe' on his US state visit
Monday 27 April 2026 07:31 , Namita SinghChaotic scene unfolded minutes after gala began
Monday 27 April 2026 07:30 , Namita SinghThe shooting at the security barricades happened minutes after the event got underway.The Secret Service and other authorities swarmed the room as guests ducked under tables by the hundreds.
Gasps echoed through the ballroom as guests realized something was happening. Hundreds of journalists immediately got on phones to call in information.
"Out of the way, sir!" someone yelled. Others yelled to duck. From one corner, a "God Bless America" chant began as the president was escorted offstage.
Outside the hotel, members of the National Guard and other authorities flooded the area as helicopters circled overhead.After an initial attempt to resume the event, it was scrapped for the night and will be rescheduled.
Donald Trump was unusually conciliatory after what he saw as a third attempt on his life in less than two years. He suggested that his personal politics had made him a repeated target, but he also called for unity and bipartisan healing in an increasingly violent world.
"It's always shocking when something like this happens. Happened to me, a little bit. And that never changes," Trump told reporters in a hastily organized news conference at the White House late on Saturday.
Video: Trump says he 'wasn't making it any easier' for Secret Service during WHCD shooting
Monday 27 April 2026 07:17 , Namita SinghActing head of Justice Department says Trump officials were targets
Monday 27 April 2026 06:24 , Namita SinghShooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen is believed to have traveled by train from California to Chicago and then onto Washington, where he checked himself in as a guest at the hotel where the gala dinner was held with its typically tight security, said acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. He is believed to have acted alone and is set to face criminal charges on Monday.
Authorities say Allen attempted to charge toward the cavernous ballroom at the Washington Hilton but was tackled to the ground in a violent scene that resulted in shots being fired, US president Donald Trump being hurried off the stage unharmed and guests ducking for cover beneath their tables.
"It does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president," Blanche told NBC.
Suspect's brother reached out to Connecticut police
Monday 27 April 2026 06:17 , Namita SinghSuspect Cole Tomas Allen's brother contacted police in New London, Connecticut, after receiving the writings, according to the law enforcement official, who was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The New London Police Department said in a statement it was contacted at 10.49pm, about two hours after the shooting, by an individual who wanted to share information related to it. The police department said it then immediately notified federal law enforcement.
Allen's sister, who lives in Maryland, told investigators her brother had legally purchased several weapons from a California gun store and kept them at their parents' home in Torrance without their knowledge, according to the official.
She described her brother as prone to making radical statements, the official said.
Allen legally bought a .38-caliber semiautomatic pistol in October 2023 and a 12-gauge shotgun two years later, according to the law enforcement official and another one who also spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
DC gala shooting suspect aired grievances against Trump in writings to family
Monday 27 April 2026 06:13 , Namita SinghThe man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner railed against Donald Trump administration policies and referred to himself as a "Friendly Federal Assassin" in writings sent to family members minutes before an attack that authorities increasingly believe was politically motivated, according to a message reviewed by The Associated Press.
The writings, sent shortly before shots were fired on Saturday night at the Washington Hilton, made repeated references to president Donald Trump without naming him directly and alluded to grievances over a range of administration actions, including US strikes on boats accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Investigators are treating the writings, along with a trail of social media posts and interviews with family members, as some of the clearest evidence yet of the suspect's mindset and possible motives.
Authorities uncovered what one law enforcement official described as numerous anti-Trump social media posts linked to the suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old California man accused of trying to breach a security checkpoint at the dinner while armed with multiple guns and knives.
Suspect armed with handgun, shotgun and multiple knives
Monday 27 April 2026 05:52 , Namita SinghWashington Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said the suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives.
Allen had purchased two handguns and a shotgun and stored them at his parents' home, the White House official said.
The suspect lived with his parents in a two-story house on a tree-lined street with picket fences and craftsman-style homes in the historic district of Torrance, a seaside town in the South Bay area of greater Los Angeles.
Neighbors in the middle-class neighborhood on Sunday said they were only casually acquainted with him and his parents, with most saying they never spoke to him beyond a brief hello or waving to them as they gave Halloween candy to trick-or-treaters.
Suspect Cole Allen sent anti-Trump manifesto to family before opening fire
Monday 27 April 2026 05:44 , Namita SinghThe suspected shooter at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner sent a manifesto critical of President Donald Trump to his family before he allegedly opened fire at the Washington Hilton, The New York Post reports.
Authorities identified the shooter as 31-year-old Cole Allen, a teacher from Torrance, California. Allen’s brother notified police in the New London, Connecticut, police department. Allen’s document was signed “Cole ‘coldForce’ ‘Friendly Federal Assassin’ Allen”.
The Post reported that the manifesto showed that Allen allegedly wanted to kill officials from the Trump administration.
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White House Correspondents’ Dinner suspect sent anti-Trump manifesto to family
Most Americans believe political rhetoric is encouraging violence
Monday 27 April 2026 05:24 , Namita SinghConservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead at a rally last September, just months after the June 2025 slaying of Democratic Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband and the wounding of a Minnesota state senator.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in the days following Kirk's murder found Americans believe increasingly harsh rhetoric surrounding politics is encouraging violence in the US.
A White House official said law enforcement officials who interviewed suspect Cole Tomas Allen's sister were told he had a tendency to make radical statements, had attended an anti-Trump “No Kings” protest and referred to a plan to do "something" to fix issues with today's world.
Video: Trump says 'NFL should hire' WHCD shooting suspect
Monday 27 April 2026 05:22 , Namita SinghWhat happened at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner?
Monday 27 April 2026 05:22 , Namita SinghOfficials have said the suspect fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a security checkpoint in the Washington Hilton hotel before being tackled and arrested.
Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, vice president JD Vance and Cabinet officials were rushed out as the incident unfolded. The Secret Service agent who was shot escaped serious injury because the bullet struck his protective vest, Trump said.
Trump, who had boycotted the media gala in the past, has requested that the dinner be rescheduled within 30 days. White House Correspondents' Association President Weijia Jiang of CBS said the group's board would determine their next steps.
The suspect will be charged in federal court on Monday with assault of a federal officer, discharging a firearm and attempting to kill a federal officer, acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said, adding he did not know if there was an Iran connection to the attack.
Further federal indictments will be coming later, Blanche said.
Video: Trump makes fresh case for controversial $400 million ballroom after WHCD shooting
Monday 27 April 2026 05:18 , Namita SinghWhy Trump, MAGA and Fetterman say correspondents’ dinner shooting seals the deal for $400M White House ballroom
Monday 27 April 2026 05:01 , Namita SinghThe president of the United States, his MAGA allies, and even a Senate Democrat pressed the case for his $400 million White House ballroom construction in the hours after a shooting at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner left nearly the entire Cabinet and DC press corps ducking for cover minutes into the event.
For months, the construction of President Donald Trump’s desired White House ballroom has made headlines and even seemed to consume the president’s attention during unrelated events, where Trump will often go on diatribes about the construction process or building plans. A federal judge halted the project earlier this month, while allowing construction of a secure bunker on the White House complex to continue.
Trump had the residence’s iconic East Wing demolished without warning to make room for the structure.
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MAGA lawmaker introducing legislation to pave way for Trump’s ballroom
Monday 27 April 2026 05:00 , Namita SinghRepublican lawmakers plan to turn President Donald Trump’s call to create his ballroom after the shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday evening into legislation.
Sen. Tim Sheehy, a freshman from Montana, said that this week, he will request unanimous consent for legislation to express support for the creation of the ballroom in the East Wing of the White House.
“It is an embarrassment to the strongest nation on earth that we cannot host gatherings in our nation’s capital, including ones attended by our President, without the threat of violence and attempted assassinations,” Sheehy said.
Report:
MAGA lawmaker introducing legislation to pave way for Trump’s ballroom
Ex-volleyball teammate describes experience with Cole Tomas Allen
Monday 27 April 2026 05:00 , Josh MarcusWhite House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen was “super stable” and didn’t seem like someone who would commit violence, according to his former high school volleyball teammate.
“He was probably the most gentle person on the team, which makes it even more shocking that he did this,” the ex-teammate told NBC News.
He added that Allen was “really, really smart.”
“Other people study hard,” the teammate said. “He didn’t have to study. It would just come to him.”
Trump calls suspect in press dinner attack 'pretty sick guy' whose views alarmed relatives
Monday 27 April 2026 04:22 , Namita SinghUS president Donald Trump said that the suspect accused of trying to attack administration officials at a black-tie gala on Saturday night was a "pretty sick guy" who had been flagged to law enforcement by family members.
Trump said in TV interviews that the suspect, whom an official identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California, had posted what Trump described as an "anti-Christian" manifesto.
"He was a Christian, believer, and then he became an anti-Christian, and he had a lot of change," Trump told CBS News. "He was probably a pretty sick guy."
In the manifesto, Allen calls himself the "Friendly Federal Assassin" and said he planned to attack Trump administration officials, prioritizing them from highest-ranking to lowest but excluding FBI Director Kash Patel, a law enforcement official told Reuters.
Allen cited Christian theology as he said he was trying to protect those harmed by the administration's policies.
What to expect as shooting investigation heads into new week
Monday 27 April 2026 04:10 , Josh MarcusInvestigators are scouring the Washington Hilton hotel and a Southern California home for more details on Cole Tomas Allen, the man accused of firing shots at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.
Allen, a teacher, allegedly traveled from his home in Torrance, California, to Chicago and then onto Washington by rail, according to officials.
Once in the capital, he used legally purchased firearms in his alleged attack at the dinner.
Allen is not cooperating with officials, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told Face the Nation on Sunday.
The 31-year-old suspect is expected to face weapons and assault charges, and could face further allegations in the future.
"There's a lot of federal charges that could be in play beyond those two charges, but it depends on us understanding his motive, his intent, his premeditation of what led into him deciding he was going to do what he did last night," Blanche added.
Allen is set to be arraigned on Monday.
King and Queen reach out to Trump after shooting at White House correspondents’ dinner
Monday 27 April 2026 04:09 , Namita SinghKing Charles and Queen Camilla have privately reached out to US president Donald Trump and his wife – first lady Melania Trump – to express their sympathies after a shooting at a White House Correspondents’ dinner, a palace source said.
British senior minister Darren Jones said earlier on Sunday that the government would continue to cooperate closely with US security services ahead of Charles' visit and that extensive discussions already under way would continue in the coming days.
"In respect of His Majesty's visit to the United States next week ... our security services obviously remain in close cooperation in advance of that," Jones told Sky News.
King Charles' visit to US to proceed after Washington shooting
Monday 27 April 2026 03:58 , Namita SinghKing Charles' state visit to the US will go ahead as planned on Monday despite a shooting at a White House dinner attended by president Donald Trump, Buckingham Palace said after discussions with US officials.
Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, are due to arrive on Monday for a four-day state visit, but questions arose after a man opened fire on security personnel near the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday, prompting Secret Service agents to rush Trump from the venue.
"I think it's great; he'll be very safe," Trump said in an interview on CBS News. "The White House grounds are really safe."
Trump also said there was no indication from authorities that there were additional threats to himself or other officials.
US authorities believe the shooting likely targeted the president and administration officials, acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said.
Blanche also said he was confident Charles would be safe during this week's visit to the US.
The four-day trip – which is to include a private meeting with Trump and an address to Congress marking 250 years since US independence – is intended to reinforce the strained US-British relationship amid differences over the Iran war.
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