Trump Says Shooting Won't Dissuade Him from Iran War

April 26, 2026 | 09:47 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - U.S. President Donald Trump has affirmed that the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner will not change his stance in the war against Iran. The statement came after a security incident that triggered the evacuation of high-ranking officials in Washington on Saturday, April 25.

According to Arab News, Trump said the shooting would not deter him from Iran war. "It’s not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, I really don’t think so, based on what we know," Trump told reporters at the White House.

However, Trump previously stated that the possibility of a connection remains open. "I don't think so. But you never know," he said, referring to the shooter as a lone actor.

Incident at the White House Dinner

The shooting took place outside the ballroom of the Washington Hilton, the venue for the annual event. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were evacuated along with several other high-ranking officials after the incident.

As per reports from The Associated Press cited by Anadolu, a law enforcement officer was shot but survived due to wearing a bulletproof vest. Trump confirmed that the officer's condition is stable. "One officer was shot, but saved by the fact that he was wearing a obviously, a very good bulletproof vest. He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job. I just spoke to the officer, and he's doing great. He's in great shape," Trump said.

Shooter's Identity and Investigation

The shooter has been identified as Cole Thomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, and is currently in custody. The police stated that the perpetrator was carrying multiple weapons, including a shotgun, a pistol, and several knives.

Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said that the perpetrator bypassed the Secret Service checkpoint before being subdued. 

Bowser added that there are no indications of involvement of other parties. The perpetrator was also taken to the hospital for evaluation.

FBI Director Kash Patel stated that a thorough investigation into the shooter's background is ongoing. Meanwhile, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche mentioned that charges will be filed soon. "I expect you will see charges filed shortly. The charges should be self-evident, given the conduct, but as you’ll hear, there will be multiple charges surrounding the shooting, around the possession of firearms," he stated.

District of Columbia Attorney General Jeanine Pirro added that the legal process will commence soon. "The defendant will be arraigned on Monday in federal district court," Pirro said.

This incident occurred amidst the ongoing war against Iran, which has been going on for nearly two months. On the same day, Trump also canceled the planned visit of the US envoy to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran, citing dissatisfaction with Tehran's negotiating position.

Read: Trump Cancels US Team's Islamabad Trip for Iran Talks

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