On April 26, 2024, during the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., shots were fired outside, leading to the swift evacuation of President Donald Trump and other officials. The incident occurred around 8:34 PM local time as dinner was being served. Guests, including journalists and political leaders, instinctively ducked for cover. Trump was seen conversing with Weijia Jiang, the President of the White House Correspondents’ Association, and mentalist Oz Pearlman, who was set to perform at the event. Secret Service agents quickly secured the area, escorting Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Second Lady Usha Vance to safety. Trump later addressed the media, confirming the arrest of the shooter, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California. He noted that one security officer was shot at but was unharmed due to wearing a bulletproof vest. Trump reflected on the incident, stating he is aware of the dangers of his role but aims to lead a normal life. He called for all Americans to commit to resolving differences peacefully after the alarming event.