TL/DR –
President Donald Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner following reports of gunfire. The suspected shooter, who was taken into custody, was from California and used a long gun. Arizona political leaders, as well as other attendees of the dinner, reacted to the incident online, with most expressing relief at the quick response of law enforcement and condemning the violence.
Trump Evacuated from White House Correspondents’ Dinner Amid Gunfire
President Donald Trump was hurriedly evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner due to gunfire on April 25, causing immediate reactions from Arizona political leaders.
Following loud bangs inside the Washington Hilton ballroom, Secret Service agents escorted Trump off the stage. Accompanied by FBI Director Kash Patel and Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump confirmed that the suspected California-based shooter with a long gun was in custody.
U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., was present at the ballroom when the incident occurred. “We were just evacuated,” Hamadeh said in a video posted to X. “There were gunshots right outside the hall. People were hiding underneath the tables.”
Concerns Raised Over Security Measures
Kari Lake, former Arizona gubernatorial candidate, criticized the event’s security in a post on X, saying photo identification was not required for entry. “I can’t believe how lax the security was at the White House correspondents dinner tonight,” Lake wrote. “Nobody asked to visibly inspect my ticket nor asked for my photo identification.”
Reactions from Arizona’s Political Leaders
Arizona leaders, including U.S. congressional representatives and state officials, expressed their reactions to the shooting on social media. U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., called the scene “terrifying” and Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., thanked law enforcement for their quick response. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs called the incident “horrifying” and stated that “Violence has no place in our politics.”
A suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, is reported to be in custody in connection with the shooting. The suspect’s name has been reported by multiple national media outlets, including The New York Times, CBS, and the Associated Press, citing anonymous law enforcement officials.
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