Agents enter the dining room after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner on Saturday. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenAgents enter the dining room after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner on Saturday. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesMonday briefing: Everything we know about the White House correspondents’ dinner shootingIn today’s newsletter: After the dramatic events of Saturday night, White House security arrangements are under scrutiny and political violence is once again in the spotlight
Good morning. On Saturday night the annual Washington ritual of the White House correspondents’ dinner descended into chaos as the US president and first lady were evacuated after the event was interrupted by gunfire.
Journalists ducked under tables as authorities rushed Donald Trump and members of his cabinet out of the room. The president and his wife were unharmed, and a suspect is in custody – identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from southern California. In today’s newsletter, I will bring you the latest updates on what we know about the incident. First, the headlines.
UK politics | Labour figures from across rival factions have begun circulating informal proposals for an “orderly transition” of power away from Keir Starmer, the Guardian understands, shifting their discussions from whether the prime minister could be removed to how.
Europe news | Private jets laden with the spoils of those whose wealth swelled during Viktor Orbán’s years in power have been taking off from Vienna, while other individuals are racing to invest their assets abroad.
Trade | UK business leaders have called on the government to build an EU-style “trade bazooka” to protect Britain’s economic interests in response to the latest tariff threats from Donald Trump.
Middle East | Hopes of a breakthrough in negotiations between Iran and the US faded further on Sunday, amid a deepening sense of a deadlock in the nearly two-month-long conflict.
Science | Simultaneous exposure to toxic chemicals and climate change’s impacts likely contributes to the broad global drop in fertility.
View image in fullscreenAgents draw their guns at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night. Photograph: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty ImagesThe Guardian’s Washington bureau chief David Smith was at the Washington Hilton on Saturday as events unfolded, and described chaotic scenes. He saw men in tuxedos, women in dresses, diving under the circular tables, “like a scene from a dozen Hollywood movies, but now it was happening to me, right here, right now.”
David has since spoken about the experience to Nour Haydar for our Full Story podcast, which you can listen to here.
What is the White House correspondents’ association dinner?
The annual event is a tradition that dates back to the 1920s, and is a fixture in the US political calendar. Most presidents have attended at least one, and often make self-deprecating remarks for the entertainment of the journalists who spend most of the year diligently reporting on the administration.
There is also usually a “comedy roast” from a guest speaker, although perhaps with an eye on how sensitive Trump can be to criticism, this year’s main event was due to be magician Oz Pearlman.
Perhaps the most infamous incident – prior to this weekend’s shooting – was in 2011, when Barack Obama taunted Donald Trump to his face over the latter’s obsession with where Obama had been born. Many observers have linked Trump’s decision to run for the presidency in 2016 with the events of that evening.
What do we know about what happened?
Shortly after 8.30pm on Saturday, gunshots were heard at the Washington Hilton, triggering panic among the roughly 2,000 guests inside the ballroom. Secret Service agents rushed in shouting instructions as journalists and officials dived under tables, and Trump and other senior figures were quickly evacuated.
The shots came from an attacker who attempted to breach a security checkpoint near the event while carrying multiple weapons, including a shotgun, handgun and knives. He was intercepted by law enforcement before reaching the ballroom but managed to fire, striking a Secret Service officer – whose ballistic vest prevented serious injury. The suspect was subdued and arrested at the scene.
The dinner was cancelled but is expected to be rescheduled, while the incident has raised fresh questions about security and the broader climate of political violence in the US.
What do we know about the suspect in custody – and their motive?
The suspected gunman has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen. From Torrance, a suburb of Los Angeles. He has no record of criminal charges or a civil court history in Los Angeles county, according to a records search.
Jeffery Carroll, the interim police chief for Washington’s metropolitan police department, told reporters “We do believe he was a guest here at the hotel. We have secured a room here in the hotel, and again, we’ll go through the appropriate procedures to determine what was inside there.”
Acting US attorney general Todd Blanche said in a television interview “We do believe, based upon just a very preliminary start to understanding what happened, that he was targeting members of the administration.”
Investigators are assessing a manifesto reportedly written by the suspect, which included a list of targets for the shooting, ranked from highest to lowest priority, with Trump administration officials at the top. An official familiar with the matter told the Guardian that the manifesto, published by the New York Post, was authentic.
The suspected gunman sent writings listing his grievances against the administration to his family members about 10 minutes before shots were fired, according to White House officials who spoke to the Associated Press.
How has Donald Trump reacted and what happens next?
The US president has used the event as an opportunity to press the case for his planned White House ballroom. “What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
The US president then spoke with CBS correspondent Norah O’Donnell about the events in an interview that aired Sunday night on 60 Minutes.
“I wasn’t worried,” he said. Trump told O’Donnell that his curiosity probably slowed the Secret Service’s efforts to rush him to safety. “I wanted to see what was happening,” Trump said. “I wasn’t making it that easy for them. I wanted to see what was going on. I was surrounded by great people. And I probably made them act a little more slowly.”
Trump urged the event to be rescheduled within 30 days, saying “I don’t want to see it be canceled. I think it’s really bad for a crazy person to be able to cancel something like this”. Then, in his typically bombastic style, he added a caveat, saying “It’s not that I want to go. I’m very busy. I don’t need that.”
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It must be a strange experience to be mourning when your loved ones’ death has been the focus of world attention. Pamela Gordon speaks to Christine Dawood, who lost her husband and son on the Titan submarine. Martin
This interview with the great actor and director Adjoa Andoh, shines a light on a talent that some people may only recognise from Bridgerton. Katy
View image in fullscreenEnzo Fernández’s goal put Chelsea in its first FA Cup final since 2022. Photograph: Cameron Smith/The FA/Getty ImagesFootball | Chelsea are into yet another FA Cup final, their 17th overall and the 13th in the last 30 years, after a hard-fought victory at Wembley over Leeds where they won 1-0.
Athletics | Sabastian Sawe, the 30-year-old Kenyan runner, made history by becoming the first athlete to run a sub-two-hour marathon, finishing the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59mins and 30 seconds. Meanwhile Ethiopian Tigst Assefa defended her title after finishing the women’s race in 2:15:41.
Football | Coventry celebrated their Championship title win with a 3-1 victory over Wrexham that leaves the Welsh team’s playoff ambitions in the balance.
View image in fullscreen Photograph: GuardianThe Guardian leads with “Washington in shock after Trump press gala shooting”. The Financial Times has “Questions mount over Trump security lapses after brush with alleged shooter”. The Sun’s headline is “Bedlam in the ballroom”.
The i reports “King flies into US with extra security after gunman fails to shoot Trump”. The Times says “Trump hails ‘brave’ King for US visit after shooting”. The Mail goes with “King keeps calm and carries on”, while the Mirror characterises it as “King’s US visit security crisis”. The Telegraph leads with an exclusive “Hermer insulted war heroes”.
View image in fullscreenJapan’s prime minister Sanae Takaichi. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty ImagesSanae Takaichi’s push to change Japan’s pacifist constitution
Justin McCurry on the political rise of the Japanese prime minister and her plan to amend rules constraining the country’s military.
View image in fullscreen Illustration: Tom Gauld/The GuardianThe UpsideA bit of good news to remind you that the world’s not all bad
View image in fullscreen‘When you’re pregnant, you are a lot more vulnerable. And you have to rely on others in ways that can make you uncomfortable.’ Composite: Victoria Hart/Getty imagesJillian Gibbs was heavily pregnant recovering from months of hyperemesis gravidarum. She was exhausted, vulnerable and unsure of her readiness for motherhood. One day while out shopping, a stranger gently pointed out that her shoelace was undone – something she couldn’t see herself due to how pregnant she was – and kindly offered to tie it for her.
This small act reminded her that the world contains compassionate people who look out for others without judgment or expectation; the stranger’s quiet, practical kindness stood out. It affirmed the value of accepting help and highlighted how meaningful simple gestures can be.
You never know when your small act of kindness can make a huge difference to someone else.
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