Transcript
Scott Detrow (0:00)
It's consider this where every day we go deep on one big news story. At this moment, few hard details are known about what authorities are calling an assassination attempt on President Trump at the White House Correspondent's Dinner in Washington Saturday night. But here is what we do know.
Jeff Carroll (0:15)
At approximately 8:36 tonight, an individual charged a US Secret Service checkpoint here in the lobby area of the hotel. He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives. As he ran through that checkpoint, members of law enforcement from the United States Secret Service intercepted that individual.
Scott Detrow (0:34)
That's Jeff Carroll, interim chief of police for the Metropolitan Police Department speaking Saturday. The individual he referenced has now been identified as 31 year old Cole Allen of Torrance, California. Meanwhile, inside the ballroom, Trump, Vice President Vance, cabinet members, lawmakers and press were having dinner and guests heard muffled popping sounds. NPR's Domenico Montanaro was also there.
Domenico Montanaro (0:59)
Well, a really disorienting moment here at the White House Correspondent's Dinner, the first time that President Trump has been at a White House correspondent's Dinner. And we wound up with shots fired inside.
Jamie Raskin (1:13)
I ended up hitting the ground with everybody else.
Scott Detrow (1:16)
Among them was Congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland. He spoke to NPR Monday.
Jamie Raskin (1:20)
We were down on the floor for around two to three minutes before people began to get up. And we were told that, you know, there was some somebody who they got.
Domenico Montanaro (1:30)
Make no mistake, this was an attempted assassination of the president of the United States with the defendant making clear what his intent was. And that intent was to bring down as many of the high ranking cabinet officials as.
Scott Detrow (1:48)
That's Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, speaking Monday at a press conference. Consider this 48 hours into the investigation. Few details are known about what transpired Saturday and why, but that is not stopping conspiracy theorists from filling in the blanks. From npr, I'm Scott Detrow.
Tom Bowman (2:13)
Every day, NPR reports stories that keep you informed without fear or favor. That's the promise of a free press in a democracy. It's in the First Amendment. I'm Tom Bowman and I cover the Pentagon for npr. Stand up for independent news coverage today by donating early for public media giving days coming up on May 1st and 2nd. Give now at donate.npr.org.
