Overview
- Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump joked a vest would make him look “20 pounds heavier” and said he does not think about another attempt on his life.
- At Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, prosecutors say Cole Tomas Allen fired a shotgun near a hotel checkpoint as the president was evacuated, and a Secret Service officer survived a chest hit thanks to a bullet-resistant vest.
- Allen, 31, has been charged with attempted assassination and related federal offenses and remains in custody as investigators analyze devices, photos, video, and ballistics from the scene.
- Officials have said a Secret Service agent fired multiple shots and that Allen discharged his weapon at least once, while forensic work continues to determine the exact sequence of fire.
- Security practices are under fresh scrutiny, with reports of inconsistent screening at the event and media coverage split between highlighting Trump’s levity and raising concerns about visible protective measures.