White House Shooting: Did Trump know about attack in advance? US President’s reply

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2 min readUpdated: Apr 26, 2026 08:47 PM ISTPresident Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after an unspecified threat at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington. (AP Photo)US President Donald Trump was part of a security scare when a shootout took place during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Saturday night, with Secret Service personnel whisking him and top officials of his administration away while guests dived under tables.During a press briefing after the incident, Trump was asked by a CNN reporter whether he or his team were aware of any threats beforehand.The US president said that neither he nor his team had any prior warning of threats before the shots were fired. “No, we’ve had no idea and there was no notification,” he said.When asked by the reporter if he was the target in White House correspondents dinner shooting, Trump said: “I guess, I mean these people, they are crazy. And you never know, he was very far away from me, he had to go through a lot. We had resources all over, resources sitting at tables in disguise…that was really the first line of defence.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by CNN (@cnn)President Trump was rushed off the stage along with First Lady Melania. The armed man, who has been reportedly identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from California, was a guest at the Washington Hilton where the dinner was being held. He was taken into custody by security personnel and will be produced in court on Monday.Addressing the media two hours after the shooting incident, Trump, who was still seen in his tuxedo, said: “When you’re impactful, they go after you. When you’re not impactful, they leave you alone. They seem to think he was a lone wolf.”A video posted by Trump showed the gunman dodging the security barricades as US Secret Service agents ran towards him. Officials have said that one officer was shot in the incident, however, he was wearing a bullet-resistant vest and is recovering.Police said that the gunman was tackled to the ground and remained unhurt, but was being evaluated at a hospital.The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:donald trumpWhite HouseAdvertisementLoading Recommendations...