Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, made a joke about “shots” not long before the shooting that occurred during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 25, 2026.
Cole Allen, 31, was arrested on suspicion of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump during the event on Saturday, which was attended by senior members of the U.S. government and 2,500 guests.
But even before the dinner began, Leavitt made a shocking remark on the red carpet while speaking with the press. “He’s ready to go all in, I’ll tell you. Tonight’s speech will be the classic Donald J. Trump,” she told Fox News.
“It will be funny, it will be entertaining. There will be some shots fired tonight in the room. Everyone should tune in, it’s going to be very good. I’m looking forward to hearing it.”
Trump was quickly evacuated by the Secret Service as soon as the shots were heard. Later, speaking to the press, the president commented on the suspect behind the assassination attempt.
“My impression is that he was a lone wolf. These are crazy people. I saw a room that was completely unified. It was, in a way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing,” he said.
“To see a man charge a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service, and they acted very quickly. It’s always shocking when something like this happens.”
Karoline Leavitt to Fox before the White House Correspondents’ Dinner: “It will be funny. It will be entertaining. There will be some shots fired tonight in the room.” pic.twitter.com/87N7zfXIIx
— Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) April 26, 2026
Photo and video: X @Mollyploofkins. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
