US Releases Dinner Gunman Video, Trump Denies Secret Service Friendly Fire
The U.S. Department of Justice released video footage of a gunman at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, showing a suspect attempting to assassinate President Trump and firing at a Secret Service agent. Both President Trump and the Secret Service Director adamantly denied that the injured agent was hit by friendly fire.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 14:19
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 14:31 (12 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 15:22 (50 min after Collected)
Central News Agency (CNA)
(CNA Washington, 30th comprehensive foreign report) The U.S. Department of Justice today released video footage of a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, showing a man accused of attempting to assassinate President Trump breaching hotel security and firing at a Secret Service agent. Both Trump and the director firmly denied that the injured officer was hit by friendly fire from his own side.
According to reports from Agence France-Presse and Reuters, Jeanine Pirro, a federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia, stated on social media platform X that surveillance footage also showed suspect Cole Allen surveying the Washington Hilton Hotel the day before the April 25th White House Correspondents' Association Dinner shooting.
This nearly 6-minute video is composed of multiple clips, including footage of a man repeatedly passing through hallways and a gym.
A more alarming scene shows the man, holding what appears to be a long gun, rushing through a security checkpoint and past a group of uniformed police officers and agents in suits.
Pirro stated that the video shows "Allen firing at a U.S. Secret Service officer while attempting to assassinate the President at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner," and that "there is currently no evidence that this shooting was caused by friendly fire," adding that the video has been provided to the federal district court.
The video appears to show a Secret Service agent firing three shots in the direction of the suspect, although police have stressed that Allen was not hit.
Sean Curran, Director of the Secret Service, said in an interview with Fox News today that an agent was shot at close range when the suspect broke through security. "Our colleagues bravely fought back," he said, adding that the agent fired five shots.
Curran stated that the suspect was not hit but fell after hitting his knee and was subsequently subdued by other federal agents near the top of the stairs leading to the ballroom. At the time, Trump, the First Lady, senior officials, and hundreds of guests were in the ballroom.
A U.S. law enforcement official also told Reuters today that investigations showed the Secret Service agent was not injured by friendly fire.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office today, "They say it wasn't friendly fire, it wasn't our people who fired."
Trump seemed reluctant when asked if he would wear a bulletproof vest. He said, "I'm not sure I can accept looking 20 pounds heavier. I think that's something people consider, but to some extent, people don't like to do that because it feels like compromising with bad guys." (Compiled by Lu Ying-tzu) 1150501
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(CNA Washington, 30th comprehensive foreign report) The U.S. Department of Justice today released video footage of a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, showing a man accused of attempting to assassinate President Trump breaching hotel security and firing at a Secret Service agent. Both Trump and the director firmly denied that the injured officer was hit by friendly fire from his own side.
According to reports from Agence France-Presse and Reuters, Jeanine Pirro, a federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia, stated on social media platform X that surveillance footage also showed suspect Cole Allen surveying the Washington Hilton Hotel the day before the April 25th White House Correspondents' Association Dinner shooting.
This nearly 6-minute video is composed of multiple clips, including footage of a man repeatedly passing through hallways and a gym.
A more alarming scene shows the man, holding what appears to be a long gun, rushing through a security checkpoint and past a group of uniformed police officers and agents in suits.
Pirro stated that the video shows "Allen firing at a U.S. Secret Service officer while attempting to assassinate the President at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner," and that "there is currently no evidence that this shooting was caused by friendly fire," adding that the video has been provided to the federal district court.
The video appears to show a Secret Service agent firing three shots in the direction of the suspect, although police have stressed that Allen was not hit.
Sean Curran, Director of the Secret Service, said in an interview with Fox News today that an agent was shot at close range when the suspect broke through security. "Our colleagues bravely fought back," he said, adding that the agent fired five shots.
Curran stated that the suspect was not hit but fell after hitting his knee and was subsequently subdued by other federal agents near the top of the stairs leading to the ballroom. At the time, Trump, the First Lady, senior officials, and hundreds of guests were in the ballroom.
A U.S. law enforcement official also told Reuters today that investigations showed the Secret Service agent was not injured by friendly fire.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office today, "They say it wasn't friendly fire, it wasn't our people who fired."
Trump seemed reluctant when asked if he would wear a bulletproof vest. He said, "I'm not sure I can accept looking 20 pounds heavier. I think that's something people consider, but to some extent, people don't like to do that because it feels like compromising with bad guys." (Compiled by Lu Ying-tzu) 1150501
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force protecting journalistic freedom.
Download the CNA 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.