'Violence has no place in democracy': PM Modi condemns attack on Trump
Chaos erupted at the Washington Hilton on Saturday evening after suspected gunshots were reportedly fired in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner hotel lobby, triggering panic and forcing the immediate evacuation of Trump and other senior officials attending the annual dinner.
by Zee Media Bureau · Zee NewsPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condemned the attack on US President Donald Trump, saying that violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned. He also expressed relief that President Trump, the First Lady, and the Vice President were safe and unharmed following the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at a Washington hotel.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Relieved to learn that President Trump, the First Lady and Vice President are safe and unharmed following the recent security incident at a Washington DC hotel. I extend my best wishes for their continued safety and well-being. Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned."
ALSO READ | WATCH: The moment 'very sick' gunman Cole Allen charged security at Trump's dinner
Chaos at Washington Hilton during Correspondents’ Dinner
Chaos erupted at the Washington Hilton on Saturday evening after suspected gunshots were reportedly fired in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner hotel lobby, triggering panic and forcing the immediate evacuation of Trump and other senior officials attending the annual dinner.
President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice President JD Vance were swiftly escorted out of the ballroom by tactical teams and moved to a secure location.
Suspect captured, officer injured
Speaking later at a press conference, Trump said the suspect had been captured. Trump added that the suspect was armed with multiple weapons and attempted to charge a security checkpoint before being stopped by Secret Service officers. He added that during the confrontation, one officer was shot, but his protective vest saved his life.
Police identify prime accused
Multiple law enforcement sources have identified the prime accused of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting incident as Cole Thomas Allen, a 31-year-old resident of Torrance, California. According to unverified social media profiles, including LinkedIn, Allen is described as an engineer and computer scientist.
He also participated in a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which has led to descriptions of him as a “NASA fellow” in some reports.
Previous assassination attempt in 2024
This is not the first time Trump has faced such a security threat. In July 2024, he survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman fired multiple shots from an elevated position outside the venue at around 6:15 pm local time.
The bullet grazed Trump’s ear before Secret Service agents quickly rushed him off stage and placed him in a secure motorcade. The incident had sparked major security concerns during the election campaign and remains one of the most serious attacks against a US presidential candidate in recent history.