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A 31-year-old California man has been formally charged by the U.S. Department of Justice over an alleged plot to assassinate former President and current sitting U.S. President Donald Trump, an incident that has prompted an official full review of White House security protocols just as King Charles III begins a high-profile state visit to the country.

The suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, appeared before a federal court in Washington, D.C. on Monday to face three criminal counts: attempted assassination of the U.S. president, interstate transportation of a firearm to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a violent offense. Allen, who entered no plea during the initial hearing, appeared calm throughout the proceedings, responding politely to all of the judge’s questions with short, formal answers. Court records confirm Allen holds a master’s degree, and reporters in the courtroom noted he closely followed every step of the hearing, with four U.S. marshals positioned around him throughout the appearance. He is scheduled to return for a follow-up hearing on Thursday, and federal prosecutors have requested he remain in pre-trial detention, noting the attempt could be classified as an act of terrorism and that additional charges may be filed as the investigation progresses.

According to official accountings of Saturday night’s incident at the Washington Hilton, the venue for the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, Allen breached a security checkpoint one floor above the ballroom where Trump, Vice President JD Vance, multiple cabinet secretaries and senior White House officials had gathered. Prosecutors confirmed Allen was armed with a semi-automatic handgun, a loaded pump-action shotgun, and three bladed weapons when he rushed past security barriers. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters Monday that during the confrontation, a Secret Service agent was struck in the chest, but was protected by a ballistic vest that stopped the bullet. The injured agent returned fire, striking Allen five times without causing life-threatening injury, and the suspect was taken into custody immediately. Blanche confirmed Allen discharged his shotgun at least once during the incident, though investigators have not yet confirmed whether the agent was hit by gunfire from Allen or by accidental crossfire from other responding law enforcement officers. The agent has since been released from hospital, and is being treated for a non-life-threatening knee injury sustained during the encounter.

Court documents outline that Allen traveled cross-country from his Los Angeles-area home specifically to carry out the attack. He left his residence on April 21, took a train to Chicago, and arrived in Washington D.C. three days later, checking into the same Hilton hotel where the dinner was being held. Prosecutors say pre-attack writings Allen sent to his family confirm his intent was not only to kill Trump, but to target as many high-ranking administration officials as possible. Public records also show Allen donated $25 to a Democratic PAC supporting Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign, he previously studied at the prestigious California Institute of Technology, and was a member of a local Reformed church in Pasadena.

This incident marks the third alleged assassination attempt against Trump in just two years, and it has triggered intense scrutiny of the security arrangements for the event. Questions are being raised about gaps in screening: multiple observers have asked why no attendee ID checks were conducted at the venue, why the entire presidential line of succession was gathered in a single location, and whether the security perimeter around the Washington Hilton was sufficiently robust. Notably, the same hotel was the site of John Hinckley Jr.’s 1981 assassination attempt on then-President Ronald Reagan. In a public statement, hotel management said it strictly followed all security directives issued by the Secret Service, which had lead responsibility for event security, and collaborated fully with local law enforcement and federal security teams.

Defending the response, Blanche pushed back on criticism Monday, saying “law enforcement did not fail” in protecting the president. He emphasized that Allen was stopped one floor away from the dinner venue, with hundreds of armed federal agents already positioned between the suspect and Trump. Senior White House officials say Trump retains full confidence in the Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security agency tasked with protecting sitting presidents and senior officials. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has called a high-level meeting this week to review existing security protocols and practices for major public events with presidential attendance. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that Trump believes existing protocols worked as intended to contain the threat, and blamed the rising tide of political violence on inflammatory rhetoric from Democratic political leaders.

The incident has not disrupted the planned state visit of King Charles III, which began Monday at the White House. Trump has publicly assured the British monarch that all necessary security measures are in place and he will be completely safe during his four-day trip. The annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, which was cut short by the security incident, will be rescheduled for a date within the next 30 days, with a completely overhauled security posture. FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Monday that investigators and security teams are already preparing for the rescheduled event, and that the agency will be “so ready” for Trump’s attendance. No new date has been announced, as event organizers note planning for the high-profile annual dinner typically takes months of preparation.

Nearly two decades after the late Queen Elizabeth II’s last state visit to the United States, Britain’s reigning monarch King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla have touched down on American soil to launch a four-day diplomatic tour, a gathering timed to coincide with the U.S.’s upcoming 250th anniversary of its independence from British rule. The core mission of this landmark trip, the first state visit to the U.S. by King Charles since he ascended to the throne, is to honor and strengthen the centuries-long special relationship that binds the United Kingdom and the United States.

Upon their aircraft’s landing at the Maryland airbase, a full red carpet welcome was laid out in line with diplomatic protocol. Dressed in formal ceremonial attire, the royal pair descended the aircraft steps to officially commence their official visit, greeted on the tarmac by two senior diplomatic representatives: White House Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley and the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the U.S. Sir Christian Turner. Following the initial welcome, local children presented the King and Queen with bouquets of flowers, a warm traditional gesture that added a soft, approachable touch to the formal proceedings.

After the couple processed through a full military guard of honor, a joint service military band performed both the U.S. and UK national anthems, a traditional ritual marking the formal start of a state visit. Following the opening welcoming ceremonies, the royal couple traveled directly to the White House, where they met with U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a formal afternoon tea. During their time at the executive residence, the couple was also shown a one-of-a-kind beehive crafted in the shape of the White House. The unique beehive is part of an ongoing sustainable honey production initiative hosted on the White House grounds, a project that aligns with King Charles’s longstanding public advocacy for environmental conservation and sustainable farming practices.

A security breach at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday has triggered a full review of presidential protection protocols, after an armed suspect managed to approach a crowded ballroom housing former President Donald Trump, top U.S. officials and more than 2,000 attendees. A senior White House official confirmed to the BBC that senior leadership will convene a high-level meeting this week to examine the incident and refine security practices ahead of a packed schedule of high-stakes public events for the president this year.

The suspect, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, breached security perimeters and engaged in a brief shootout with law enforcement before being subdued by officers. A federal agent wearing a ballistic vest was shot during the exchange, but no fatalities or critical injuries to attendees were reported. The incident has sparked intense scrutiny of the U.S. Secret Service, the federal agency tasked with protecting the sitting president and other high-ranking government officials, after multiple security gaps were reported: attendees entering the Washington Hilton venue were not required to show valid photo identification, event tickets only listed table numbers without attendee names, and a single metal detector checkpoint was placed one level above the main ballroom entrances. Allen was stopped just near the top of the stairs leading directly to the ballroom doors.

Despite widespread questions about the agency’s performance, President Trump has repeatedly voiced full confidence in the Secret Service’s actions. A senior White House official told the BBC that the president personally believes agents did an excellent job of neutralizing the threat and moving him and his inner circle to safety quickly. Even with that public backing, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles will lead the upcoming review meeting, which will include senior operations staff, Secret Service representatives, and officials from the Department of Homeland Security. The gathering will focus on dissecting which existing protocols successfully stopped the attack, while evaluating additional improvements to strengthen security for the large number of high-profile presidential events scheduled for the coming months.

Among the upcoming major events are public gatherings tied to the 250th anniversary of the United States this July, a planned UFC fight hosted on the White House South Lawn, and official appearances tied to the 2026 World Cup. Separately, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley, who was in attendance at the dinner alongside Trump, Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson, has announced plans to hold a separate closed-door briefing with Secret Service leadership to examine the incident and existing security protocols. Grassley, 92, is fourth in the presidential line of succession.

In an on-site briefing roughly two hours after the shooting was contained, Trump acknowledged the inherent risks of open public events for sitting presidents. “I can’t imagine that there’s any profession that is more dangerous,” he said of the work of Secret Service agents, reiterating his support for the agency despite the coming review.

A fresh controversy has erupted around late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel, after former first lady Melania Trump publicly lambasted a hateful joke he made ahead of the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner – where a would-be attacker later opened fire in an incident authorities suspect targeted senior Trump administration figures.

The incendiary quip, delivered during Kimmel’s pre-dinner monologue on ABC on Thursday, targeted the former first lady directly. “Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow,” Kimmel joked. Just two days after the segment aired, 31-year-old suspect Cole Tomas Allen was tackled by Secret Service agents near a staircase leading to the dinner ballroom, which was packed with hundreds of journalists, government officials and high-profile public figures. No attendees were harmed in the incident, and Allen is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday.

In the wake of the shooting, a clip of Kimmel’s joke resurfaced online and ignited widespread backlash across social media platforms, with many critics arguing that the comedian’s harsh rhetoric crossed a line and emboldened political violence. On Monday, Melania Trump broke her silence on the incident with a scathing public post on X, denouncing Kimmel’s comment as dangerous and unfunny.

The former first lady called Kimmel’s remark “hateful and violent”, describing the joke about herself and her family as corrosive commentary that amplifies the deep political polarization dividing the United States. “His monologue about my family isn’t comedy – his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America,” she wrote. Melania Trump went on to call on network executives at ABC, Kimmel’s long-time broadcaster, to take disciplinary action against the host for what she labeled his “atrocious behavior”. She questioned why network leadership has repeatedly enabled Kimmel’s inflammatory rhetoric, writing: “How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community.” She added that commentators like Kimmel should not be given a national platform to “spread hate” into American households each night.

This is not the first time Kimmel’s controversial political commentary has gotten him pulled from air. Last September, the host was temporarily suspended after drawing outrage for remarks he made following the fatal shooting of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. During that monologue, Kimmel claimed that Trump’s Make America Great Again movement – commonly nicknamed “Maga” – was attempting to exploit Kirk’s murder for political gain. After a week off the air, Kimmel returned to the show and acknowledged that his comments had been poorly received. “I accept that some people felt my remarks about Kirk’s death had been ‘ill-timed or unclear or maybe both’,” he said at the time, adding “I get why you’re upset.”

As of Monday, the BBC has reached out to ABC News for a response to Melania Trump’s latest demands, and the network has not yet issued a public comment on the controversy.

A high-stakes diplomatic meeting is set to unfold on United States soil, as former President Donald Trump welcomes King Charles III for a formal visit that unfolds against a backdrop of growing friction between Washington and London. The long-awaited royal trip arrives at a moment of deep division between the two long-standing allies, with the simmering crisis over Iran emerging as the core flashpoint that threatens to complicate discussions between the two leaders. For decades, the United States and the United Kingdom have maintained a so-called special relationship, built on shared security goals, economic ties and cultural alignment. But in recent weeks, disagreements over how to address escalating tensions around Iran have opened a rare and noticeable rift between the two governments, casting a shadow over this symbolic royal engagement. Analysts note that while the visit carries heavy ceremonial weight, behind the formal handshakes and state dinners, both sides will be navigating significant differences on Iran policy. Whether the meeting will ease the current strain or further highlight the divide between the two allies remains to be seen as the visit gets underway.

The 2026 White House Correspondents’ Association annual dinner, a staple gathering for Washington’s political and media elite held at the Washington Hilton hotel, descended into chaos Saturday night when gunshots rang out, leaving attendees and the public shaken by a brazen attempted attack targeting former U.S. President Donald Trump. In the aftermath of the incident, the performer on stage at the time of the shooting has shared a gripping first-hand account of the split-second terror that unfolded just feet from the former president.

Oz Pearlman, a well-known mentalist who was mid-act when the shots erupted, told the BBC that he was interacting directly with Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt when the attack began. At that exact moment, Pearlman was in the middle of a signature mind-reading trick: he had just written his guess for the name of Leavitt’s upcoming baby on a slip of paper, preparing to reveal it to the audience. In an instant, the festive atmosphere shattered at the sound of gunfire.

“I went down very quickly. And then the Secret Service brought President Trump down: I would say very effectively – but quite violently,” Pearlman recalled. The performer, who ended up mere centimeters from Trump on the venue floor, described the surreal, terrifying moment the pair locked eyes as shots continued to ring out. “We were about half-a-metre apart… face-to-face looking at each other on the ground, when I’m hearing shots and thinking to myself, ‘We’re about to die,’” he said.

Pearlman added that the initial rush of Secret Service agents initially led him to believe an explosive device was set to detonate, rather than an active shooter situation. “It didn’t feel like they were looking for a shooter. It felt like they were looking to stop something from happening,” he explained. Within just two seconds of taking cover, agents evacuated Trump from the venue, while Pearlman and other nearby attendees crawled to safety on their own.

In a post-incident interview with CBS’s *60 Minutes* Sunday, Trump downplayed the danger he faced, saying he “wasn’t worried” during the ordeal. “I understand life. We live in a crazy world,” the former president commented. He confirmed that both he and the First Lady followed security instructions to take cover on the floor before being evacuated.

Law enforcement officials have identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, a California resident who was arrested immediately after the shooting. According to two sources familiar with the investigation who spoke to CBS, the BBC’s U.S. news partner, Allen told authorities after his detention that he specifically intended to target current and former officials from the Trump administration. The shooting exchange occurred on a floor directly above the dinner ballroom, where Trump and hundreds of other attendees were gathered. Allen is scheduled to be arraigned at a Washington, D.C. court hearing Monday, where formal charges will be filed against him.