Photo: Alamy
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday that President Donald Trump showed strong leadership during a shooting that disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington on Saturday.
In a post on X, Johnson pointed to the president’s response during the incident, when a gunman exchanged fire with law enforcement at the Washington Hilton, prompting the evacuation of the president, first lady and other officials.
“Many in the media are discussing how President Trump was ‘so remarkably calm’ and ‘in control’ through the events last night. That is the mark [of] a great leader, and it defines who Donald Trump is. … I’ve spent a lot of time with him over the past several years, and he is at his strongest in times of crisis and turmoil,” Johnson wrote.
“It is a primary reason why his time in office is so historic. Adding to that history, he has now survived a third assassination attempt,” he added.
Johnson noted that President Trump’s response reflected resilience under pressure.
“Trump has endured the most unbelievable trials, accepted every risk, and works tirelessly every day to ensure that America is great once again,” he wrote. “May God continue to protect and sustain him.”
Authorities said the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance, California, was armed with multiple weapons and opened fire near a security checkpoint. A Secret Service agent was struck but protected by a ballistic vest and is expected to recover.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the suspect traveled from California to Washington and had planned to disrupt the event.
“We believe that he traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago, and then Chicago to Washington, D.C.,” Blanche said during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.”
The annual dinner, a major event bringing together journalists, lawmakers, and administration officials, was thrown into chaos as attendees took cover and security personnel cleared the room.