A dramatic security breach unfolded at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, where a gun-wielding intruder was stopped just short of the main ballroom. Newly released videos detail the rapid response that shielded President Donald Trump from potential harm.
President Trump posted one video on Truth Social showing Secret Service personnel pinning down 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen from Los Angeles as he charged forward. U.S. media shared a second clip capturing the indoor frenzy: a booming sound interrupts Trump’s chat with First Lady Melania and press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Guests scrambled under tables while agents hustled the presidential couple away under heavy guard. VP JD Vance was also swiftly evacuated.
Metropolitan Police Interim Chief Jeffrey Carroll confirmed Allen, a Caltech mechanical engineering grad and recent computer science master’s holder, stayed at the event venue. His room is now under lockdown. Armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives, Allen fired at officers during his arrest.
Digging into Allen’s life reveals a tech-savvy professional: LinkedIn lists him as a C2 Education tutor, indie game creator (‘Boredom’ trademarked in 2018, developing ‘First Law’), and even a $25 Harris campaign contributor. A 2017 news feature highlighted his innovative wheelchair project. This blend of accomplishments and armament raises alarms as federal probes intensify into what could have been a catastrophic incident.
