A Government minister has stated that the King's security during his US state visit this week is being taken 'very seriously' following an incident in which a gunman attempted to storm a Washington DC dinner attended by Donald Trump.
Attack at White House Correspondents' Dinner
The White House Correspondents' Association dinner descended into chaos on Saturday night when the suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, attempted to breach the event. The American president, who has previously been the target of an assassination attempt, was swiftly evacuated by Secret Service agents along with other senior administration officials. One officer was shot but protected by his bulletproof vest and was taken to hospital.
The suspect, who is believed to have been a guest at the Washington Hilton hotel where the dinner was held, was carrying a shotgun and a handgun. He faces charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, with acting US attorney general Todd Blanche confirming that additional charges will be filed.
UK Government Response
Sir Keir Starmer sent a message of solidarity to Mr Trump after the incident, as confirmed by Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones during an appearance on Sky News. Mr Jones stated: 'These are remarkable scenes. The Prime Minister has, this morning, sent a message to the president of the United States in solidarity for the events that took place. As you would imagine, with the visit of His Majesty the King this week, our teams are working closely to ensure that security arrangements are put appropriately in place.'
When asked about any extra concerns for the King's safety during the state visit beginning on Monday, Mr Jones said: 'As you would imagine, the Government and the Palace take the security of His Majesty very seriously, and there were already extensive discussions taking place, which will continue over the coming days.'
Sir Keir expressed being 'shocked' by the incident, posting on X: 'Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. It is a huge relief that @POTUS, the First Lady and all those attending are safe.'
Impact on Royal Visit
The armed assault comes just days before the state visit by the King and Queen, who are due to meet Mr Trump and attend a White House banquet. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on security matters when asked about the incident's impact on the trip.
Mr Trump posted pictures on his Truth Social platform of the alleged assailant handcuffed on the ground following his detention. He vowed to reschedule the disrupted event at a late-night press conference, stating that the attack had 'unified' political opponents and the media. He described the suspect as 'a lone wolf whack job' and praised the Secret Service for their swift response, noting that the gunman was not close to breaching the ballroom where he sat on stage.
Washington mayor Muriel Bowser indicated she had 'no reason' to believe anyone else was involved. Acting US attorney general Todd Blanche remarked: 'Tonight you saw the very worst and the very best of this country. You saw the very worst by the actions of that coward… but you also saw the very best because you saw law enforcement do exactly what they're supposed to do. I promise you justice will be served.'
Among the guests at the black-tie event, which Mr Trump said would be rescheduled within 30 days, was British ambassador Sir Christian Turner. He posted on social media: 'The @UKinUSA team attending tonight's White House Correspondents dinner are grateful for the swift and professional response of the Secret Service. We are thankful that the President and all those in attendance were unharmed & our best wishes are with the injured officer.'
The Washington Hilton was the site of a previous attempted presidential assassination in 1981, when then-president Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr outside the hotel, leading to increased security at the property.
