President Trump is publicly backing the Secret Service after a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday, marking the third assassination attempt against him in less than two years.
A senior White House official said Trump believes the Secret Service did “an excellent job” neutralizing the threat and swiftly moving him, first lady Melania Trump, and Vice President Vance to safety. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stressed the president’s confidence in the agency’s leadership despite mounting questions about how a shooter got so close.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles will convene a meeting early this week with the White House operations team, Secret Service, and Department of Homeland Security leadership to review protocols for large-scale events. “The meeting will discuss the processes and procedures that worked to stop Saturday’s attempt, while exploring additional options to ensure all relevant components are doing everything possible to secure the many major events planned for President Trump in the months ahead as he gears up to celebrate America 250,” the official said.
Trump was rushed from the dais at the Washington Hilton ballroom to a secure presidential suite—a space created after Ronald Reagan was shot at the same hotel in 1981. The rapid evacuation drew praise, but security experts and lawmakers are pressing for answers on how the suspect breached the perimeter. One former Secret Service agent has urged Trump to limit cabinet attendance at future events to reduce risks.
CBS News reported Sunday, citing administration and law enforcement sources, that the suspect left a manifesto stating he intended to target White House officials “prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.” An administration official confirmed the document’s existence to The Hill. The manifesto detailed a hierarchy of targets, raising alarms about the planning behind the attack.
The shooting follows two earlier attempts on Trump’s life: one in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, where he was struck by a bullet, and another in West Palm Beach, Florida. Representative Zinke has noted that while security tightened after Butler, vulnerabilities remain, as shown by the latest incident.
Lawmakers from both parties are calling for a thorough review. Representative Hamadeh has argued that Congress must tighten security protocols for high-profile events, while Representative Khanna is pushing for a bipartisan commission on political violence. The Justice Department has also pressured a preservation group to drop a lawsuit over the Trump ballroom, citing security concerns after the shooting.
Despite the chaos, the White House confirmed that the planned state visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla will proceed as scheduled. The administration is balancing crisis management with its broader agenda, as Trump prepares for the America 250 celebrations and a packed schedule of public appearances.
