‘Sense of disbelief’: how White House press dinner attack unfolded – The Latest

Summary

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Today in Focus – ‘Sense of disbelief’: how White House press dinner attack unfolded – The Latest

Podcast: Today in Focus (The Guardian)
Host: Lucy Hoff
Guest: David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief
Date: April 27, 2026
Duration: ~10 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode of “The Latest” from Today in Focus dives into the aftermath and implications of the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C. over the weekend—a rare and shocking breach of security with President Trump and senior officials present. Host Lucy Hoff speaks with David Smith, The Guardian’s Washington bureau chief and an eyewitness, to unravel how the attack unfolded, examine lapses in security, and consider the broader context of rising political violence in the U.S.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How the Attack Unfolded

[01:57 – 04:06]

• David Smith describes a surreal scene: “Guests in tuxedos and ball gowns filing into this subterranean ballroom at the Washington Hilton Hotel... what was different this year was Donald Trump was attending as president for the first time.”
• The dinner began as normal until “suddenly I heard some loud bangs towards the back of the ballroom. No idea what it was… I turned, saw guests diving for cover under tables. And that sort of moved like a wave through the room and thought, well, maybe I had better do the same.” (David Smith, 01:57)
• Smith recalls seeing “Secret Service agents moving swiftly through the room, treading on chairs to get to the stage. Trump and Vance had been whisked away, and there were armed police there with helmets and rifles scouting out the room, and just a general sense of disbelief for everybody.”
• After the initial chaos, “in a room full of journalists, there are a lot of phone calls to editors and people shooting video on their phones.”
• Memorable moment: An “eerie silence” descended as guests sheltered in place.

2. Information about the Suspect – Cole Thomas Allen

[04:06 – 05:29]

• The suspect, Cole Thomas Allen, is described as:
  • 31 years old, from near Los Angeles, California.
  • A teacher with a background in computer science and interest in video games.
• Details on the attack:
  • Allen reportedly traveled cross-country by train, possibly to avoid airport security.
  • Had stayed in the same hotel for days prior—giving him access through looser guest security.
  • Sent a manifesto to his family “about 10 minutes before carrying out the… attempted attack,” expressing “contempt, his disdain for the Trump administration… setting out a plan to target as many officials as possible. Also pleading for forgiveness and, you know, repeatedly apologizing for what he was about to do.” (David Smith, 04:25)

3. Security Lapses and Questions Raised

[05:29 – 06:37]

• Despite “footage that's been released by Trump on Untruth Social,” showing Allen bypassing Secret Service while “heavily armed with a rifle, but also carrying multiple knives,” security ultimately stopped him before he entered the main ballroom.
• “He opened fire and shot a Secret Service agent who was protected by his body armor.”
• Perspectives on security:
  • Smith notes: “Security did actually feel a little tighter than usual… but I heard others saying that it was pretty lax. As a general rule… you don't have to show your personal ID. You are mingling with hotel guests.”
• The administration claims “the system did work… attacker did not get to the ballroom,” yet Smith predicts, “there will now be a review of whether an event like this can proceed in the same way in future.”

4. Trump’s Response and Political Ramifications

[06:37 – 08:08]

• This marks the “third assassination attempt of President Donald Trump” following two during the 2024 campaign.
• Trump’s reaction:
  • Characterized as “classic Trump the showman, seizing this moment for his own political advantage and realizing how he can cast himself as a brave, defiant leader who will not be cowed by the terrorists.” (David Smith, 07:06)
  • Held a press conference still in black tie, “pivoted and turned this into an advert for his $400 million ballroom at the White House… suggesting this proves tight security is needed.”
  • Smith points out, “this particular dinner, being run by a journalist organization, would never be held in such a ballroom anyway.”
• Reminiscence: The event is likened to “the assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, when he rose from the ground, fist aloft, his face bloodied, and chanted, fight, fight, fight. Producing some iconic images.”
• Strategic benefit for Trump: “Anything that changes the conversation from the Iran war is helpful to him.” (David Smith, 07:06)

5. Escalating Political Violence in America

[08:08 – 09:39]

• Hoff cites a spate of violent incidents: the assassination of right-wing podcaster Charlie Kirk, Democrat Melissa Hortman, and others; describes an “epidemic of gun violence.”
• Smith says, “Trump himself was asked… and more or less shrugged it off… as a politician, you'll be a target.”
  • Some politicians “pushed back against that and said, you know, this is no way to live with these twin demons of rising political violence and, yes, the gun violence epidemic.”
• Notable reflection: “What journalists experienced on Saturday night is, frankly, what millions of Americans have in town halls, in churches, even in schools, tragically. And… we had the benefit of the protection of the Secret Service… But sadly, I don't think there will be a particular political reckoning over this—over gun violence or political violence. But, you know, it does remain a scourge in America, a real characteristic of the Trump era.” (David Smith, 08:38)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Biggest thing I remember was just being utterly sort of confused and that sense of commotion.”
  – David Smith [00:42]
• “I turned, saw guests diving for cover under tables. And that sort of moved like a wave through the room and thought, well, maybe I had better do the same.”
  – David Smith [01:57]
• “What journalists experienced on Saturday night is, frankly, what millions of Americans have in town halls, in churches, even in schools.”
  – David Smith [01:07, echoed at 08:38]
• “Classic Trump the showman, seizing this moment for his own political advantage… He would immediately pivot and turn this into an advert for his $400 million ballroom at the White House, which has been very controversial.”
  – David Smith [07:06]
• “Trump himself was asked about this at the Saturday press conference and more or less shrugged it off… air of resignation... it's the price of doing business these days.”
  – David Smith [08:38]

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Key Segment Timestamps

• [01:57] – David Smith recounts the initial moments of chaos
• [03:12] – Secret Service response and removing the President/VP
• [04:06] – Background on the suspect and his manifesto
• [05:29] – Discussion of security failures and procedures
• [06:37] – Political ramifications and Trump’s response
• [08:08] – Context of rising political violence and gun violence in the U.S.

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Tone & Takeaways

• The episode maintains a sober, urgent tone, driven by the gravity of the event and the broader issue of political violence.
• David Smith’s eyewitness testimony grounds the discussion in journalistic detail and lived experience, while Lucy Hoff’s questions guide the analysis to larger societal and political implications.
• The recurring theme is disbelief—not only at the attack itself, but at the persistent climate of insecurity and political violence in the U.S.

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This summary provides a comprehensive snapshot of the episode’s content and discussions, conveying the tense atmosphere, first-hand reporting, and critical questions that the attack raises about security and political extremism in contemporary America.

Transcript

[Guardian Announcer]

This is the Guardian.

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[David Smith]

Biggest thing I remember was just being utterly sort of confused and that sense of commotion. Trump, seizing this moment for his own political advantage, turned this into an advert for his $400 million ballroom at the White House.

[Unnamed Commentator]

I didn't want to say this, but this is why we have to have the ballroom. That's why Secret Service, that's why the military are demanding it.

[David Smith]

What journalists experienced on Saturday nights is, frankly, what millions of Americans have in town halls, in churches, even in schools. Political violence does remain in America, a real characteristic of the Trump era.

[Lucy Hoff]

The shooting at the White House Correspondent's Gala in Washington over the weekend has raised serious questions about how the suspect was able to get so close to the president. We speak to our reporter who was there from the Guardians today. In Focus, this is the latest. With me, Lucy Half. Well, dialing in is David Smith, our Washington bureau chief. David, thanks for joining us. You were at the White House Correspondents association dinner on Saturday in Washington. Let's start by can you just describe how it all unfolded and what it was like for you being in that room?

[David Smith]

Yeah, it's great to be here. This is an annual dinner I've attended many times. And the evening began very normally, guests in tuxedos and ball gowns filing into this subterranean ballroom at the Washington Hilton Hotel. Of course, what was different this year was Donald Trump was attending as president for the first time. He saluted during the national anthem, took his seat, and for about 30 to 40 minutes we were just making small talk, eating salad, drinking wine. And then suddenly I heard some loud bangs towards the back of the ballroom. No idea what it was. As Trupp himself said later, it could have been plates clattering. I turned, saw guests diving for cover under tables. And that sort of moved like a wave through the room and thought, well, maybe I had better do the same.

[Lucy Hoff]

Yes. And this kind of extraordinary scene of security agents, Secret Service agents coming in to get the president and his wife, J.D. vance, the VI vice president and his wife out, and other senior White House officials who were present and who are reportedly the intended targets of this suspected attack. What was it like to experience that rapid security response?

[David Smith]

It was Stunning. The biggest thing I remember was just being utterly sort of confused and that sense of commotion and just not knowing what was happening. We were crouching under these tables. As I looked around, I could see fear in the eyes of some of the guests. There was an eerie silence for a while, and we saw these Secret Service agents moving swiftly through the room, treading on chairs to get to the stage. And I got up to look what was happening. Trump and Vance had been whisked away, and there were armed police there with helmets and rifles scouting out the room, and just a general sense of disbelief for everybody. And then in the minutes that ensued, slowly but surely, a certain kind of normality returned, and we got up and we started talking to each other. And of course, in a room full of journalists, there are a lot of phone calls to editors and people shooting video on their phones.

[Lucy Hoff]

So the suspect is Cole Thomas Allen. What do we know about him? Because we do know, reportedly, that he'd been staying in the hotel where this dinner took place for some days prior to the attack, and that he'd also written a manifesto that he'd sent to his family about 10 minutes before carrying out the. This attempted attack.

[David Smith]

That's right. The. The authorities say Alan is 31 years old. He's from near Los Angeles in California, is a teacher with a background in computer science and apparently enjoyed making video games. Evidence perhaps of a small political donation. He apparently traveled to this event by train from California, which is a fairly unusual thing to do. And the suspicion there is perhaps he was avoiding airport metal detectors by going on, on the train. He apparently stayed as a guest in the hotel, which would have allowed him to get past at least some of the security. And yes, on Sunday, we got evidence reportedly of a manifesto, he wrote, a letter to a family where he set out his contempt, his disdain for the Trump administration, saying he couldn't believe this is the government of the US and setting out a plan to target as many officials as possible. Also pleading for forgiveness and, you know, repeatedly apologizing for what he was about to do.

[Lucy Hoff]

Goodness. And it raises up serious issues of, and questions of security, doesn't it? Because as per footage that's been released by Trump on Untruth Social, his social media platform, Alan was able to bypass a Secret Service agent, you know, heavily armed with a rifle, but also carrying multiple knives. So that is quite a serious security failure, isn't it?

[David Smith]

Yes. And of course, he opened fire and shot a Secret Service agent who was protected by his body armor. I think the main discussion on Sunday in Washington was, how could this happen, this kind of security breach? Certainly for me personally, security did actually feel a little tighter than usual. I had to share my invitation even to get onto the hotel grounds, but I heard others saying that it was pretty lax. And as a general rule with this, you. You don't have to show your personal id. You are mingling with hotel guests. Of course, the administration would claim, ultimately, the system did work. This attacker did not get to the ballroom, did not have Trump in his sights. But even so, I think there will now be a review of whether an event like this can proceed in the same way in future.

[Lucy Hoff]

So this is the third assassination attempt of the president Donald Trump, isn't it? After two attempts during his 2024 election campaign, Trump held a press conference. Right. The incident. He's then done a series of media interviews. One journalist read this alleged manifesto to him, to which Trump described the reporter as a disgrace. How would you describe his response since Saturday night?

[David Smith]

I think classic Trump the showman, seizing this moment for his own political advantage and realizing how he can cast himself as a brave, defiant leader who will not be cowed by the terrorists. It was typical Trump to hold a press conference immediately, immediately be wearing black tie. The journalists were also still dressed in their gala fineries. And of course, also very typical Trump that he would immediately pivot and turn this into an advert for his $400 million ballroom at the White House, which has been very controversial. But he suggested this proves tight security is needed. Just as a side note, certainly this particular dinner, being run by a journalist organization, would never be held in such a ballroom anyway. But the whole thing really recalls the assassination ATT against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, when he rose from the ground, fist aloft, his face bloodied, and chanted, fight, fight, fight. Producing some iconic images. And of course, anything that changes the conversation from the Iran war is helpful to him.

[Lucy Hoff]

Yeah, but obviously there is real concern about this rise in political violence in the last few months. The assassination of the far right podcaster Charlie Kirk last year, similarly, the assassination of Melissa Hortman, a Minnesota Democrat, and her hu, and an epidemic of gun violence. Has there been any kind of serious response to the White House in response to this? Obviously, political violence is something that's always occurred in America, but it does feel particularly febrile at the moment.

[David Smith]

That's right. And Trump himself was asked about this at the Saturday press conference and more or less shrugged it off. And the kind of air of resignation indicated, it's the price of doing business these days. That as a politician, you'll be a target. Certainly some politicians on Sunday pushed back against that and said, you know, this is no way to live with these twin demons of rising political violence and yes, the gun violence epidemic. I think some in the room made the good point that what journalists experienced on Saturday nights is frankly what millions of Americans have in town halls, in churches, even in schools, tragically. And of course we had the benefit of the protection of the Secret Service and what was arguably the the safest room in America. But sadly, I don't think there will be a particular political reckoning over this over gun violence or political violence. But, you know, it does remain a scourge in America, a real characteristic of the Trump era.

[Lucy Hoff]

Well, David, thank you, thank you for your reporting and stay safe after a very troubling weekend.

[David Smith]

Thank you.

[Lucy Hoff]

That's it for today. My huge thanks to David Smith, our Washington Bureau Chief. Do read his reporting over atthetheguardian.com as well as our live blog on this story. And do listen to our sister podcast Politics Weekly, where Pippa Creera and Kieran Stacey will be discussing the many headaches facing Keir Starmer and reports that Labour mps are plotting to get rid of him. Thanks for listening to this episode of the latest Today in Focus will be back in your feeds as usual tomorrow morning. The latest will be back tomorrow night. This episode was presented by me, Lucy Hoff. It was produced by Bryony Moore. The senior producer was Ryan Ramgobin and the lead producer was Zoe Hitch.

[Guardian Announcer]

This is the Guardian.

[Barclays Flipside Podcast Narrator]

From globalization to innovation sustainability to market volatility, there's always more than one side to a story. Explore different perspectives on today's most important business and economic issues with the Flipside Podcast from Barclays and Investment Bank. Hear two research analysts in a lively debate and get insights from every angle to further inform your view. Listen to the flip side on your favorite platform.

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