President Donald Trump on stage as gunshots are heard during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, April 25, 2026.
World leaders reacted Sunday with shock and support for the US president Donald Trump after a man armed with multiple weapons charged a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, on Saturday before being apprehended by U.S. Secret Service agents.
Trump, first lady Melania and members of Trump’s cabinet were evacuated from the event. One officer was shot, but he was “saved by the fact that he obviously had a very good bulletproof vest on,” Trump told reporters at a news conference in the White House briefing room after the incident.
The suspected shooter was identified later Saturday as Cole Allen of Torrance, California. He is being held by authorities as they investigate the shooting.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “shocked” by the dinner scenes.
“Any attack on democratic institutions or freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” said in a post on X.
Starmer has been repeatedly criticized by Trump for not further supporting the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Britain’s King Charles III is being “kept fully informed of developments” in the United States, according to media reports citing a statement from Buckingham Palace. The monarch is due to visit Trump in the United States on Monday.
“A number of discussions will take place throughout the day to discuss with our American colleagues and our respective teams the extent to which the events of Saturday evening may or may not have an impact on operational planning for the visit,” the BBC said. cited the palace as said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuin his remarks at the start of a government meeting, said: “There is no place for violence, neither against political leaders nor against anyone. This doesn’t just include the United States; this includes, above all, the State of Israel, from within. »
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, whose country is under attack as Israeli forces pursue Iran-backed Hezbollah forces, also condemned the shooting.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is evacuated as a gunman opens fire during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, DC, U.S., April 25, 2026.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who mediates negotiations between the United States and Iran, also said he was shocked by the incident.
“I am relieved to know that President Trump, the First Lady and other attendees are safe. My thoughts and prayers are with him and I wish him continued safety and well-being,” Sharif said in a statement. job on X.
Other US allies in the Middle East have also expressed support for Trump.
THE United Arab Emirateswhich has suffered repeated reprisals from Iran, expressed its “strong condemnation of such criminal acts and its unwavering rejection of all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability.”
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the shooting.
“Violence never has a place in politics”European Union leaders reacted unanimously to the shooting.
“Violence never has a place in politics,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. said the.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas echoed these sentiments.
“An event meant to honor a free press should never become a scene of fear. I wish the injured officer a speedy recovery,” Kallas said. added in a post on social media.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose relationship with Trump deteriorated in recent months because of the war in Iran and Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo, joined the chorus of support for Trump after the shooting.
“I want to express my deepest solidarity and closeness to President Trump, First Lady Melania, Vice President Vance and everyone present for what happened last night at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” Meloni said.
“No political hatred can find a place in our democracies. We will not let fanaticism poison places of free debate and information. The defense of the culture of confrontation must remain the insurmountable bulwark against any intolerant drift, to safeguard the values on which our Nations are based,” added Meloni.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, one of the United States’ staunchest allies in Asia, said: “Political violence poses a grave threat that undermines the very foundations of democracy and cannot under any circumstances be justified. »
