Donald Trump, first lady Melania and senior officials were quickly evacuated to safety from the annual event after several gunshots were heard outside the Washington Hilton Hotel ballroom where around 2,500 people were in attendance.
Follow live - gunfire at correspondents' dinner attended by President Trump
The suspect has been identified by US authorities as 31-year-old Cole Allen, from Torrance, about 15 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Police have said the suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives.
Officials have said he has no criminal record and was not on the radar of law enforcement.
Jeffrey Carroll, interim chief of police for the Metropolitan Police Department, said the suspect was involved in an altercation as he tried to get into the event.
The suspect exchanged shots with an officer, who was struck but was unharmed because he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
He was "tackled to the ground" and handcuffed by law enforcement before being apprehended, Mr Carroll added.
Officials believe Allen was acting alone, but while his motive is unclear, Todd Blanche, acting US attorney general, said the suspect appeared to be targeting Trump administration officials, "likely including the president".
Speaking to Sky News' US partner network, NBC News, he added that he does not believe that the suspect is
co-operating with the investigation.
Read more from Sky News:
Terrorists launch simultaneous attacks in Mali
Ten killed in Ukraine after major Russia drone attack
Mr Blanche added that the suspect travelled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then on to Washington DC, before checking into the hotel where the dinner was held.
Suspect's background
Sky News has verified Cole Allen's LinkedIn profile, in which he describes himself as a "mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth".
According to his profile, he secured a bachelor's degree in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena and a master's degree in computer science from California State University-Dominguez Hills.
It also says he was a summer undergraduate research fellowship student in 2014 at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, where he says he updated the "modelling capability for planets around several previously excluded stars".
Allen's online resume suggests he has worked for the last six years at C2 Education, a company which helps aspiring college students.
In December 2024, C2 Education said he was "teacher of the month", posting their congratulations to him on LinkedIn with hashtags including #DedicatedTeachers and #InspiringEducators.
One of his LinkedIn posts also said he was working to develop a new "top-down shooter" combat game set in outer space.
'Lone wolf whack job'
Speaking at a news conference after the incident, President Trump said he may have been the suspected gunman's target.
Earlier, Mr Trump uploaded a photo to his Truth Social platform claiming to show the alleged gunman being apprehended.
He described the suspect as a "lone wolf whack job" from California.
'Suspect had manifesto'
Asked if he knew about the suspected gunman, Mr Trump responded that Allen has "got some big problems, it's a very bad situation" after reading his manifesto.
"His family knew he had difficulty", Mr Trump said.
The New York Post reports that Allen sent an anti-Trump manifesto to his family members 10 minutes before opening fire at the dinner.
Mr Trump told Fox News: "This guy is a sick guy when you read his manifesto. He hates Christians, that's one thing for sure... and I think his sister or his brother actually was complaining about it.
"They were even complaining to law enforcement, he was a very troubled guy."
Allen's brother had made police aware of the writings after they were sent to family members, a senior administration official told our US partner network, NBC News.
According to the official, there was anti-Trump sentiment and the suspected gunman had described his targets as administration officials, not guests or hotel employees.
The official said he had apologised to family and friends in writing and said he does not expect forgiveness.
Allen's sister described him to law enforcement as having a tendency towards making radical comments. He would also constantly reference a plan to fix issues with the world, the official added.
She told investigators Allen had purchased two handguns and a shotgun but that her parents were unaware he was keeping weapons inside their home, the official said.
'Friendly Federal Assassin'
The suspect had also referred to himself as "Friendly Federal Assassin" in writings, a source told the news agency AP.
Police believe the suspect was a guest at the Washington Hilton Hotel where the correspondents' dinner was being held.
"We do believe he was a guest here at the hotel. We have secured a room here in the hotel, and again, we'll go through the appropriate procedures to determine what was inside there," Mr Carroll said.
US attorney Jeanine Pirro has confirmed the suspect has been charged with firearms and assault charges.
Saturday evening was the first time that Mr Trump has attended the correspondents' dinner as president.
He was the subject of two assassination attempts in 2024, after he left the White House in 2021 and while he was campaigning for re-election.
The most serious occurred while Mr Trump was campaigning at an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024.
Mr Trump was shot and wounded in his upper ear by a 20-year-old gunman. The gunman was shot dead by security personnel.
The site of Saturday's dinner, the Washington Hilton, was the scene of an attempt on the life of then president Ronald Reagan, who was shot and wounded by a would-be assassin outside the hotel in 1981.
The US president and his wife, Melania Trump, were rushed out of the White House correspondents' dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Washington DC on Saturday night after gunshots rang out.
Trump latest: President rushed to safety after gunfire at dinner
The assailant, who reportedly opened fire near the entrance to the ballroom, was quickly apprehended by law enforcement. He has been named as 31-year-old Cole Allen, from Torrance, California.
An officer was struck but was saved by a bulletproof vest, Mr Trump said. Nobody else was injured.
King Charles is travelling to the US for a four-day state visit on Monday, with the incident raising questions about his and the Queen's safety.
But on Sunday evening Buckingham Palace confirmed the trip would still be going ahead.
A statement from the Palace read: "Following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day, and acting on advice of Government, we can confirm the State Visit by Their Majesties will proceed as planned.
"The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the visit getting under way tomorrow."
It is understood there will be some modest operational adjustments to one or two royal engagements during the trip, but the overall plan remains as previously outlined.
The Palace said earlier in the day, at lunchtime on Sunday, that a "number of discussions" are taking place today with the White House to determine "what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the visit".
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson added: "His Majesty is being kept fully informed of developments and is greatly relieved to hear that the president, first lady and all guests have been unharmed."
Read more:
The people who have tried to kill Donald Trump
What we know about suspected gunman
'King Charles is coming, he's a great guy'
Mr Trump told Fox News on Sunday that King Charles would still be attending despite the shooting.
Mr Trump said: "First of all, King Charles is coming, and he's a great guy. We look forward to it. He's really a fantastic person. And a tremendous representative."
Referencing the King's battle with cancer, he added: "He's got a problem with, as you know, very well documented problem with his health, and he's been amazing. Actually, he's very brave actually.
"And he's a friend of mine for a long time. So, he's coming, and we're going to have a great time. And he represents his nation like nobody else can do it."
The King and Queen are understood to have reached out privately to Mr and Mrs Trump to express their sympathies with all affected and their gratitude to the security services for preventing further injuries.
Darren Jones, chief secretary to the prime minister, told Sky News on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that UK security services "obviously remain in close cooperation" over the King's visit.
He said Sir Keir Starmer sent a message to the president this morning in solidarity over the incident and said British Embassy staff and other Brits who were there "are very grateful to the US Secret Service for the action that they took".
Mr Trump said on Friday that he intends to raise topics including Iran, NATO and the United Kingdom's digital services tax when the King visits.
The monarch's visit will mark the 250th anniversary of US independence from Britain and he will make stops in Virginia and New York, as well as the capital where he will deliver an address to Congress.
The visit also comes as relations between the two countries are at what some have been saying is their worst since the Suez Crisis in 1956, with repeated criticism by Mr Trump of Sir Keir Starmer over his refusal to join the US attack on Iran and dismissive remarks about Britain's military capabilities.
A number of politicians and commentators have called for Sir Keir to call off the visit.
Acting attorney general Todd Blanche told Sky News's US partner network NBC: "It does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president".
Speaking after the incident, Mr Trump compared himself to former US president Abraham Lincoln, who was assassinated in 1865.
Follow latest on Trump dinner shooting
He told a reporter: "I've studied assassinations, and I must tell you, the most impactful people, the people that do the most...
"The people that make the biggest impact, they're the ones that they go after."
The president has survived multiple shootings and threats against his life over the last decade - take a look at the timeline below.
February 2026
A man was shot dead by the Secret Service after trying to "unlawfully enter" Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Austin Tucker Martin, 21, who was armed with a shotgun and gas canister, had raised his gun "to a shooting position" before he was shot, according to Palm Beach County officials.
Martin was believed to have travelled from North Carolina, and his cousin later described the family as "big Trump supporters".
Donald and Melania Trump were in Washington at the time of the incident.
September 2024
A man hiding in bushes with an AK-47-style rifle attempted to assassinate Mr Trump as he played golf in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Ryan Routh, 59, fled and abandoned an assault-style rifle but was arrested the same day.
He was later jailed for life without parole, attempting to stab himself in the neck with a pen after the verdict was announced.
July 2024
Mr Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, after eight shots were fired as he spoke at the campaign rally.
Shortly after God Bless The USA was played, and around eight minutes after Mr Trump began speaking, he was shot and wounded in the upper part of his right ear, causing "much bleeding".
The 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead by Secret Service counter snipers at the scene, and Mr Trump was bundled from the stage.
One rally attendee was killed and two others seriously injured in the attack.
Images of a bloodied Mr Trump defiantly pumping his fist to the crowd after the shooting were widely shared following the incident.
Read more:
How shooting at Trump dinner unfolded
What we know about suspected gunman
July 2024
Earlier this year, a Pakistani man was convicted of planning to kill Donald Trump and other prominent US politicians, following Washington's killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
Asif Merchant, 47, was convicted of "murder for hire and attempting to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries" at the behest of Iranian authorities, according to the Department of Justice.
He was arrested in 2024 as he was about the leave the US, having met undercover officers who pretended to be potential hitmen.
Tehran denied accusations that it sought to kill Mr Trump or other US officials.
Merchant admitted to joining the plot with Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps but testified he did so to protect his family in Tehran.
June 2016
A 20-year-old British man was jailed after trying to grab a police officer's gun at a rally in a Las Vegas casino, later saying he drove to the event to try to kill the then presumptive Republican nominee.
Michael Sandford, 20, of Dorking, Surrey, was unemployed, living out of his car and had undergone treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder and anorexia, according to authorities. He was unlawfully in the US after overstaying his visa by 10 months.
Sandford was later jailed, and served around half of his year-long sentence, before returning to the UK.
Thames Valley Police received reports that Pink Punters in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, was on fire at around 2am on Sunday.
A large number of clubbers and residents in the Watling Street area were safely evacuated from the area by staff.
Footage shared on social media appeared to show large flames licking through the roof of the building.
Police said it was too early to comment on the cause of the fire, and appealed for anyone with information to get in contact.
Police and Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue crews remain at the scene, and there are road closures.
A 51-year-old man from Milton Keynes was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and remains in custody, police say.
Milton Keynes commander Chief Superintendent Emma Baillie said: "This was a significant fire in which a large number of people had to be evacuated.
"Thankfully no one was injured and staff at the venue worked quickly and effectively to safely evacuate everyone."
She added: "At this time, it would be too early to comment on any particular motivation for this incident and we would respectfully ask for people not to speculate."
Established in 2000, Pink Punters has multiple dancefloors, four bars, and a cellar club room. It also has karaoke and hosts regular live events.
Read more:
Gay conversion is still legal in the UK - why?
Why Pride organisers face 'the most serious financial challenge'
Another nightclub in Milton Keynes, Unit Nine, posted a message of support following the fire.
They wrote on Facebook: "We're all extremely shocked & saddened to hear about the fire at Pink Punters.
"Nightclubs/venues are more than just businesses... They're built on years of hard work, sacrifice, and passion. They become a huge part of people's lives.
"Pink Punters has been a known club throughout the UK and of course MK, for many years, and holds memories for tens of thousands of people.
"We are pleased to hear that the customers & staff all got out safely as that is of course the priority but we also appreciate the emotional weight something like this carries. It's not just about a building, it's about everything behind it, the blood sweat & tears.
"So today our thoughts are with the entire team and everyone connected to Pink Punters.
"We hope you can rebuild the legacy asap and return stronger than ever."
A United Nations (UN) fact-finding report estimated the RSF killed at least 6,000 people in three days, in a takeover that bears "the hallmarks of genocide".
Amid the clips of violent killings was a stark warning to Sudanese journalists who have covered the brutal war at home.
A video emerged of Muammar Ibrahim, a reporter known for documenting the 18-month RSF siege on his hometown Al Fashir for the Al Jazeera channel, being jostled in the darkness and forced to speak to the camera by an RSF fighter.
Another video showed Mr Ibrahim visibly terrified on his knees in the dirt.
He has been held by the RSF since they captured Al Fashir with little to no communication with the outside world.
Read more: Sudan shows how the nature of war is changing - and it's a death trap for civilians
Around 300 independent journalists have fled Sudan out of fear of repression and retaliation since the start of the war between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in April 2023.
On 3 November 2025, a video was shared on official RSF channels of Mr Ibrahim sitting at the desk of an RSF officer who announced that the reporter would be investigated for spreading false information.
Reporters Sans Frontiers and the Committee to Protect Journalists have regularly called for Mr Ibrahim's release and protection in the six months since he was detained.
Efforts by journalists and relatives to negotiate his freedom have been unsuccessful. Reporters Sans Frontiers reports that he is being held in an undisclosed location without contact with his family or a lawyer.
On Sunday, a spokesperson for the RSF-led TASIS government responded to my latest questions about Mr Ibrahim's wellbeing and whereabouts - this time in a WhatsApp group created to share TASIS press releases with journalists.
"He is in good health," said Dr Alaa Nugud. "[He] will soon be presented to legal proceedings, especially after appointing Chairperson of the Judiciary system in the Peace government last week."
"What crime is he being charged for?" I asked.
Dr Nugud responded with a series of social media posts shared by Mr Ibrahim that show support for the army and describe the RSF as a militia. An RSF siege was starving Al Fashir into famine at the time of his social media posts.
Read more from Sky News:
King's US visit to go ahead after Trump dinner shooting
Kenyan runs first official sub two-hour marathon
The army, state-backed Joint Task Forces, and civilian resistance fighters were fending off RSF capture from inside the city Mr Ibrahim was reporting from.
In the weeks before Al Fashir was captured, state intelligence briefly held and questioned Mr Ibrahim before releasing him.
The TASIS spokesperson also presented the landmark prosecution of two Rwandan journalists for the use of anti-Tutsi hate media to fuel the killing of 800,000 Tutsis in the 1994 genocide.
The journalists were sentenced to life in prison by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, a UN court which was based in Tanzania.
"Can you find similarity between the two cases?" Dr Nugud asked. "The judge will decide if there is or no…"
"Who is the judge? What constitution will the court be using? Do you consider Muammar a journalist, protected by International Humanitarian Law?"
There was no response to these questions. The conversation ended and what remains is serious concern over the judge, jury, and executioner in the RSF's prosecution of journalist Muammar Ibrahim.
The Sudanese Journalism Syndicate has documented 393 cases of direct violence against the media and journalists in the first year of war alone.
On 13 April, Sudanese journalist Zamzam Khatir shared on Facebook that her family home in Kutum, North Darfur was raided by the RSF. She said they looted the house and forcibly took her brothers, sisters, nephew, and several female guests to an undisclosed location.