US Edition2 Presidents, 2 Near-Assassinations: How Trump and Reagan Escaped Death at Washington Hilton Hotel
President Donald Trump and other officials were evacuated after shots rang out at the annual dinner, and a suspect was taken into custody, officials said.
- On Saturday, April 25, shots were fired at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel, forcing President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to evacuate immediately.
- Trump stated the suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, was "armed with multiple weapons" and described him as a lone wolf actor; law enforcement agencies have Allen in custody.
- The venue is famously the site of the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan and is known as the Washington Hilton or locally as the "Hinckley Hilton" after gunman John Hinckley.
- More than 40 years ago, Hinckley fired six shots outside the hotel, wounding President Ronald Reagan and three others, including White House Press Secretary James Brady, who died in 2014 from his injuries.
- A plaque continues to mark the scene of the 1981 shooting on the side of the Washington Hilton, as all top US officials, including Trump, were confirmed safe during the evacuation.
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15 Articles
2 presidents, 2 near-assassinations: How Trump and Reagan escaped death at Washington Hilton Hotel
The shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday (April 25) night has evoked memories of the attempted assassination of former US President Ronald Reagan in 1981. While President Donald Trump was unharmed when shots were fired at the Washington Hilton, a bullet had hit Reagan outside the hotel, but he survived
How could a man armed with rifles, guns and knives get close enough to shoot a Secret Service agent at the gala dinner with Trump?
Gunfire panic at White House dinner revives memories of Ronald Reagan-era attack at Washington Hilton
Panic erupted at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents Dinner. Gunshots were reported, causing Secret Service agents to secure President Donald Trump. The incident echoed the 1981 assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan at the same venue. Authorities are investigating how the suspect gained access. The hotel has a history of security concerns.
Ronald Reagan then, Donald Trump now: The dark history of Washington Hilton | White House Dinner Shooting
The Washington Hilton has faced two major security incidents involving US presidents: the 1981 assassination attempt on Reagan and the 2026 White House dinner shooting. Both events raised concerns over presidential safety at the same location, highlighting vulnerabilities in security protocols.
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