Trump Calls for ‘Resolving Our Differences Peacefully’ after Apparent 3rd Assassination Attempt

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President Trump on Saturday night called for unity and urged Americans to resolve their differences peacefully after he was rushed from a Washington, D.C., hotel amid nearby gunfire in what appeared to be the third attempt on his life in less than two years.

Trump was set to speak at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton -- an annual gathering of journalists, politicians and celebrities—when shots outside the ballroom where he was seated rang out. Trump later said he initially thought it was a tray dropping, yet quickly realized the gravity of the situation when Secret Service agents rushed him out.

Video released by the White House shows an individual sprinting past a security checkpoint as agents drew their weapons. He was apprehended before entering the ballroom and was later identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, Calif.

The event was called off and postponed, with Trump saying it will be rescheduled within 30 days. Trump held a press conference at the White House shortly after the frightening incident. 

“This was an event dedicated to freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both parties with members of the press,” Trump said. 

Trump said the individual “charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons” and was “taken down by some very brave members of Secret Service.” The suspect “attacked our Constitution,” Trump said, revealing that the gunman shot one officer who survived because he was wearing a bulletproof vest.

“I just spoke to the officer, and he's doing great.”

The president called for Americans to reject political violence and pursue peace.

“This is not the first time in the past couple of years that our republic has been attacked by a would-be assassin who sought to kill—in Butler, Pa., less than two years ago—you all know that story -- and in Palm Beach, Fla., a few months after that,” Trump said, citing the locations of previous assassination attempts.

“In light of this evening's events, I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our differences peacefully. We have to resolve our differences. I will say you had Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives, liberals and progressives -- those words are interchangeable, perhaps, but maybe they're not—but yet everybody in that room … there was a tremendous amount of love and coming together. I watched and I was very, very impressed by that.”

Trump emphasized the need to protect free speech and to reschedule the event—making it “bigger and better,” as the president put it.

Trump added that the difficulty in securing the hotel is one reason he is building a ballroom on White House grounds.

Meanwhile, he offered a brief history lesson on American and world history, saying leaders who are “impactful” are typically the ones that gunmen attack.

“It’s a dangerous profession, but I don't view it that way. Look—I'm here to do a job. … I can't imagine that there's any profession that's more dangerous, but I love the country, and I'm very proud … of the job we've done.”

President Donald J. Trump delivers a statement following a shooter near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. pic.twitter.com/wOr1SjdfvP

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 26, 2026

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Chip Somodevilla / Staff

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

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