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Published 09:19 25 Jul 2026 GMT
President Donald Trump was met with complete silence after telling a sex joke during his speech at the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner.
The annual event finally took place on Friday (July 24), three months after the original dinner was cut short by a shooting at the Washington Hilton.
The 80-year-old president's hour-long speech mixed calls for unity with attacks on political rivals and members of the media, but one moment in particular left the room noticeably quiet.
Trump shared a joke about an ageing senator while discussing term limits for members of Congress.
He told the audience that a senator received a text from his wife saying: "When you get home, I want you to immediately come up the stairs and make love to me."
The president then delivered the punchline, saying the senator replied: "I can't do both."
The room remained silent.
Trump then explained the joke himself.
"Can't get up on the stairs and make love," he said while pulling a face. "Does anybody get that?"
After realizing the joke had failed to land, the president laughed it off.
"That was the only thing I thought was good in this whole frickin' stupid speech they wrote," he said. "That was the only good one and that went down with not exactly great laughter."
Trump opened his speech by reflecting on the April dinner, which was interrupted after suspected gunman Cole Allen allegedly opened fire before the evening's programme began.
"As I said three months ago, the show must go on," he said. "Tonight we come back together to answer that heinous attack with unwavering resolve," he added, saying the event showed that "in America we do not yield to political violence."
He also revealed that his original speech had been much more aggressive.
"I was so psyched. I was going to rip people, and I don't know. Just something changed," he said. "It's really for the better, but I just wouldn't want to do that. But we'll do a little ripping if you don't mind."
Although Trump applauded members of the press, telling attendees: "I have tremendous respect for the people in this room," he also added: "Sometimes I don't feel you treat me fair."
"Maybe you do. I don't know. I don't feel that, but sometimes you treat me very fairly, and I have a lot of respect for your profession," he said.
He also took aim at several political opponents and journalists by name before closing the event by pulling out a red "Trump 2028" hat and joking that he would run for another presidential term, despite the Constitution barring a third term.
The president also thanked guests for attending despite the events of April.
"Most of us went through a period of trauma from just a short while ago, and you know, some people said they wanted to come, but they were afraid to come, and you people weren't afraid to come," he said.
The rescheduled dinner was held at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C., rather than the Washington Hilton, where the April event descended into chaos.
Secret Service officer Victor Gonzales was shot during the attack but was protected by his ballistic vest and continued responding to the threat.
Gonzales and the Washington Hilton staff received the White House Correspondents' Association's President's Award for Exceptional Service during Friday's ceremony.
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Published 08:57 27 Apr 2026 GMT
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Published 08:45 26 Apr 2026 GMT
Donald Trump has spoken out after a shooting brought the White House Correspondents Dinner to an abrupt halt on Saturday night, forcing the evacuation of the president, senior cabinet officials, and guests inside the Hilton hotel ballroom.
The annual event had started as planned and marked Trump’s first attendance at the dinner while serving in office, after skipping it on previous occasions. Attendees had welcomed the president warmly before chaos erupted when five gunshots rang out, triggering an emergency response and the cancellation of the evening.
Speaking to reporters after the incident, Trump described the shocking moment gunfire erupted, recalling how quickly the atmosphere changed inside the room. “It’s always shocking when something like this happens. It’s happened to me a little bit. The fact we were sitting right next to each other, and the First Lady on my right, and I heard a noise and thought it was a tray. I thought it was a tray going down - I’ve heard that many times - it was a pretty loud noise, and it was from pretty far away.
“He hadn’t breached the area at all before we got him. It was quite far away - but it was a gun. Some people really understood that pretty quickly, others didn’t. I was watching to see what was happening, but probably should’ve gone down even faster.”
Trump also revealed First Lady Melania Trump reacted instantly to the sound of gunfire.
“Melania was very conscious of what happened. I think she knew immediately what had happened - she was saying ‘that’s a bad noise’. We were whisked away along with other people.”
He also praised the response from security and law enforcement.
“The performance of the secret service, the police - all of law enforcement - was really very good. It was very quick. There wasn’t much time to be thinking as it was mere seconds before we were out the door.”
A suspect was apprehended and taken into custody shortly after the shooting, but the security scare led officials to cancel the event entirely, despite efforts to continue.
“We very much wanted to continue. I don’t like to let these sick people, these thugs, these horrible, horrible people, change the fabric of our lives or change the course of what we do.
So we held out right until the end, but they didn’t want to take a chance and I understand that’s protocol. But we’ll hopefully be doing one within the next 30 days or sooner.”
Trump also hinted at the speech he had prepared for the dinner, joking it may now never be delivered in its original form.
“I am ready, willing and able! I was all set to really rip it and I said to my people, this would really be the most inappropriate speech to give - so I’ll have to save it. I don’t know if I can ever be as rough as I was going to be tonight. I think I’ll probably be very boring and nice next time. We’re going to have a great event.”
The president also addressed being asked about facing another assassination attempt, after a reporter raised his history with previous attempts.
“I’ve studied assassinations and I must tell you, the most impactful people - the people that do the most, the people that make the biggest impact, those are the ones they go after.
“They don’t go after the ones that don’t do much because they like it that way. When you look at the people, whether it was an attempt or successful attempt, they’re very impactful people. They’re big names.”
“I hate to say I’m honoured by that. I’ve done a lot. We’ve taken this country from being a laughing stock for years, now we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world. There’s a lot of people that are not happy about that.”
While the White House Correspondents Dinner was scrapped following the shooting, Trump said he hopes the event can be revived soon, suggesting a replacement could take place within 30 days.
The dramatic incident stunned attendees and instantly shifted what was meant to be a celebratory evening into a major security emergency, with Secret Service agents rushing into action as shots were fired.
Though the dinner ended before Trump could deliver his planned remarks, the president insisted the event would return, promising “We’re going to have a great event.”
Donald Trump has explained why he remained seated after the "assassination attempt" at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The incident unfolded at the Washington Hilton on Saturday (April 25), when a gunman charged a security checkpoint and opened fire.
Attendees dove under tables as Secret Service agents rushed the 79-year-old president, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, as well as other top administration officials, to safety.
Secret Service agents exchanged fire with the suspect before bringing him down, with one agent struck in a bulletproof vest and expected to recover. No other injuries were reported.
As investigators piece together what they say could have been a far deadlier attack, the president has now explained why he remained seated after gunfire erupted.
Speaking with CBS correspondent Norah O’Donnell on 60 Minutes, Trump said his hesitation came down to curiosity.
"I wanted to see what was happening," he explained. "I wasn’t making it that easy for them. I wanted to see what was going on. And by that time we started to realize maybe it was a bad problem, different kind of problem, a bad one, and different than what would be normal noise from a ballroom."
He remarked that he was "surrounded by great people," adding: "And I probably made them act a little more slowly. I said, 'Wait a minute, wait a minute.'"
But despite the chaos, Trump said he was not "worried."
"I understand life. We live in a crazy world," he added.
Federal investigators identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, who authorities say allegedly charged the checkpoint armed with a shotgun, handgun, and several knives, per The Guardian.
According to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, investigators believe Allen traveled by train from California to Chicago and then to Washington, where he checked into the Washington Hilton days before the dinner, per NBC News.
Authorities say evidence recovered from Allen’s electronic devices and writings suggests he intended to target administration officials attending the gala.
"It does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president," Blanche told NBC’s Meet the Press.
He also disclosed that Allen is not cooperating with investigators. "He failed," Blanche said. "Law enforcement did their jobs."
Allen faces two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, with officials warning more charges could follow.
If convicted, he could face 20 years in prison for the assault charge, while the weapons counts carry a minimum ten years and could lead to life behind bars if fired.
Officials said Allen had no prior criminal record and was not previously known to law enforcement in Washington.
Published 07:18 26 Apr 2026 GMT
A 31-year-old California man is in custody after charging a security checkpoint armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives. A Secret Service agent was shot in his bullet-resistant vest and is expected to recover.
The annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, usually one of the more sedate nights on the Washington calendar, all tuxedos, salads and rehearsed jokes, descended into chaos on Saturday evening after a man opened fire near the entrance to the ballroom where President Donald Trump and senior members of his administration were seated.
Guests were partway through a spring pea and burrata salad when the noise started. Trump later said he initially thought it was a tray being dropped. Several journalists in the room reported hearing between five and eight loud bangs shortly after 8:30pm. Within seconds, Secret Service agents were sweeping the President and First Lady off the main stage. "Out of the way, sir!" someone shouted, as hundreds of attendees ducked under tables and reached for their phones.
The President, the First Lady, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, FBI Director Kash Patel and other senior officials were all evacuated unharmed. Trump was briefly taken to a special presidential suite that was built into the hotel after Ronald Reagan was shot outside the same building in 1981 — a detail that has not been lost on commentators in the hours since.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California. According to law enforcement officials, Allen was a guest at the Washington Hilton, where the dinner is held each year, and is believed to have approached a magnetometer screening area in the lobby armed with a shotgun, a handgun and several knives.
D.C. Metropolitan Police interim chief Jeffery Carroll said the suspect exchanged gunfire with officers before being tackled to the ground and handcuffed. He was not struck by any rounds himself, but was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. A Secret Service agent who was hit in the chest was protected by his ballistic vest and has since been released from hospital.
Public records and a LinkedIn profile matching the suspect's name and photograph describe Allen as a 2017 mechanical engineering graduate of the California Institute of Technology, who later earned a master's in computer science. He had been working part-time as a teacher at a tutoring company called C2 Education, where he was named "teacher of the month" in December 2024. Officials have publicly stated he had no criminal record and was not previously known to law enforcement.
FBI agents and tactical teams descended on a residence on Gramercy Avenue in Torrance late on Saturday night, where aerial footage showed armoured vehicles and agents in tactical gear in the residential neighbourhood.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro confirmed Allen would be charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, with further charges expected as the investigation unfolds. Authorities believe he acted alone. No motive has been made public.
Trump returned to the White House around two hours after the incident, still in his tuxedo, and held a hastily arranged news conference flanked by Vance, Patel, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. He praised the Secret Service and the agent who was shot, calling him "a very proud guy." On Truth Social he posted footage of the suspect being detained, writing that the gunman had "charged a security checkpoint armed with many weapons."
Investigators are now examining a long gun and shell casings recovered from the scene, and have asked anyone with information to come forward. The suspect's hotel room is being searched. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said there was "no reason" to believe anyone else was involved or that the public was in any further danger.
For the President, it is the latest in a series of incidents. Butler in July 2024, the West Palm Beach golf course later that summer, and now the Hilton, that will inevitably renew scrutiny of the Secret Service and the security perimeter around major political events. For everyone else, it is another reminder of how quickly a routine night in Washington can turn.
Published 09:20 27 Apr 2026 GMT
A clip from the chaotic moments surrounding the attempted shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is now going viral, and viewers all seem to be saying the same thing about Donald Trump’s reaction.
The incident unfolded on Saturday night (April 25) at the Washington Hilton, where a gunman opened fire, forcing security to rush Trump and other government officials out of the ballroom.
But it’s a brief moment caught on camera just before and during the chaos that’s now drawing intense scrutiny online.
In footage circulating widely on social media, Trump appears to react with what some viewers are describing as a smirk as the situation begins to unfold and reports of “shots fired” emerge.
The moment is short, but it’s been enough to spark debate, with many questioning whether his reaction seemed “concerning” given the seriousness of the situation.
Others, however, have pushed back, arguing that split-second facial expressions can easily be misread, especially in confusing, fast-moving moments where details aren’t immediately clear.
Adding to the online reaction is a remark made earlier in the day by Karoline Leavitt, which has taken on an entirely different tone in hindsight.
Speaking to Fox News ahead of the event, she previewed Trump’s appearance, saying he was “ready to rumble” and promising “classic Donald J. Trump.”
She added: “It’ll be funny. It’ll be entertaining.”
But it was one particular line that quickly went viral after the shooting: “There will be some shots fired tonight in the room.”
At the time, the comment was quite clearly meant as a joke about political jabs during the dinner. But after real gunfire erupted, many online described the remark as eerily well-timed, given what unfolded following her comments.
Authorities say the shooting was allegedly carried out by Cole Tomas Allen, a California teacher who reportedly managed to get past security and approach the event armed.
Investigators believe he may have been targeting government officials, though it remains unclear whether Trump himself was the intended target.
The suspect was quickly apprehended, and officials confirmed that Trump and other attendees were safely evacuated.
As clips and commentary continue to spread, reactions have been mixed. Some users are focusing on Trump’s expression in the video, calling it unusual given the circumstances, while others argue it’s being overanalyzed, pointing out that people often react unpredictably in high-stress situations.
Similarly, Leavitt’s earlier comment has fueled debate, with some calling it an unfortunate coincidence and others reading more into it.
For now, though, both the video and the comment remain open to interpretation, and that hasn’t stopped people from talking about them.
Jimmy Kimmel made a savage claim about Donald Trump's manhood in a blistering monologue.
The White House Correspondents' Dinner is set to take place this Saturday (April 25).
Traditionally, the annual event features a comedian roasting the president and political elite, but with the 79-year-old set to attend for the first time as president this year, that format has been scrapped.
Mentalist and author Oz Pearlman has been selected as the evening’s entertainer, a move Kimmel openly slammed during his Thursday (April 23) show.
"At the Correspondents' Dinner, typically someone funny shows up and roasts the luminaries and the president and everyone, but our president is a delicate snowflake with the thinnest fat skin of any human being ever," he said, before also calling the president a "trembling drama queen."
Unimpressed with the decision to ditch the comedy tradition, the 58-year-old created his own version of the event.
He stood behind a podium and delivered a nine-minute mock roast aimed at Trump, touching on everything from the Iran War to the Epstein Files to personal digs.
"By the way, before we go any further: Melania, this is Donald. Donald, this is Melania," he joked. "That was my impression of Jeffrey Epstein."
He continued with more pointed remarks, telling Trump: "Don’t worry, if we bruise your ego, it’ll only make your hands look less disgusting."
Kimmel then referenced the president's 2024 hush-money trial, quipping: "The president didn’t want me to tell any jokes about him tonight, but he also didn’t want to pay me $130,000 to shut up, so here we are... Sorry, mushroom d*ck.”
The host's comment draws attention to claims made years earlier by adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
During a 2018 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live while promoting her memoir Full Disclosure, Daniels described an alleged encounter with Trump in 2006, which he has repeatedly denied.
In the book, she wrote: "I lay there, annoyed that I was getting f****ed by a guy with Yeti pubes and a D like the mushroom character in Mario Kart… It may have been the least impressive sex I’d ever had, but clearly, he didn’t share that opinion," cited by Rolling Stones.
Kimmel leaned into the moment during the interview by showing different mushrooms and asking Daniels to pick which one she believed closely resembled Trump.
"Can you hold it up so it’s coming at me at the correct angle?" Daniels joked before picking one of the smallest mushrooms.
She later addressed the backlash, saying: "Do you know how much hate mail I’ve gotten from people who love Mario Kart? In one day, I managed to ruin half of America’s childhood and mushroom farming everywhere."
According to The Mirror, the president is preparing to address members of the media directly during the event.
The Daily Beast reported that he is "expected" to target outlets that have criticized him, his administration, and his handling of the Iran war.
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