Trump's security remains a concern after the April 25, 2026 attack

President Donald Trump faced another shooting attack on April 25, 2026, while he was at a press conference at the Washington Hilton. A man armed with a shotgun, a handgun and several knives opened fire outside the event room, hitting a security guard wearing a bulletproof vest.

Security forces quickly surrounded Trump and placed a cordon around him, while others took the suspect into custody. The man, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was arrested after a gunfight with security forces. Trump was not injured in the attack, but said he thought, "I can't imagine any profession being as dangerous as this."

A BBC reporter who was there said that although the roads were closed, security was very poor. He said that a security guard checked his ticket but ignored it because he was far away. Surveillance camera footage released by Trump shows Allen running past a security guard standing on the top floor.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Allen wanted to kill top US officials, including Trump. Police said he was a guest at the hotel, and Trump posted a photo of himself naked on the floor with his hands tied behind his back.

This is the third attempted attack on Trump since 2024. In the spring of 2024, he was shot in Butler, Pennsylvania, with a bullet wound to his ear. Two months later, gunmen attempted to shoot him at his golf course in Florida but were unsuccessful. Trump says, “When you’re useful, they hunt you down.”

Trump said the Washington Hilton was not particularly secure, and insisted that work on a large White House meeting room should be expedited. “It’s a room that’s impervious to drone strikes, it’s going to have bulletproof glass,” he said. He also thanked the security guards who evacuated Vice President JD Vance.

Former FBI agent Jeff Kroeger said the secret service did a good job of keeping Allen out of the gathering. However, experts say that given Trump's frequent attacks, there should be more stringent measures and greater scrutiny at such events.

. Crime continues to target leaders in America*

The attack was a reminder of the increasing number of violent attacks on American leaders. In 2023, the Capitol Police reported investigating 8,000 violent incidents. In 2025, Conservative MP Charlie Kirk was shot and killed, and in 2022, Nancy Pelosi's husband was hacked to death. Historically, President Ronald Reagan was also assassinated in 1981, while Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were both assassinated.