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State of the Union

Crisis at the White House Correspondents' Dinner: A Night of Fear and Heroism

State of the Union

CNN

News

3.41.2K Ratings

🗓️ 26 April 2026

⏱️ 43 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Breaking news from the White House Correspondents' Dinner: An attack unfolds with President Trump at the center. Hear first-hand accounts from witnesses and experts on the latest episode of political violence in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Shots fired. President Trump is safe after the Secret Service apprehended a man who fired

0:11.7

shots outside the White House Correspondence dinner. We really wish to win. What is law

0:16.6

enforcement learning about the suspect and what prompted the attack.

0:23.6

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is next.

0:25.5

And close call.

0:29.1

The president rushed out amid an attack again.

0:32.9

The most impactful people, they're the ones that they go after.

0:37.4

The entertainer who was shoulder to shoulder with Trump during the attack, Ouse Perlman joins me ahead.

0:40.3

Plus, rising tie.

0:42.3

This attack at the same hotel where Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981 is the latest in a scourge of political violence in America.

0:51.3

What, if anything, can be done to stop it? House Judiciary Committee Democrat

0:56.3

Jamie Raskin was at the dinner. He's coming up.

1:05.8

Hello, I'm Dan Abash in Washington where the state of our union is shaken.

1:11.5

A shocking attack last night outside a dinner headlined by President Trump.

1:30.3

Thank you. Go on the ground Go on the down. And here's what was happening the security line and exchanged fire with law enforcement before being apprehended.

1:58.9

Authorities have identified him as 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen,

2:03.3

a teacher and video game developer from California

2:06.4

who was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives.

2:10.8

D.C. police believe he was acting alone.

2:13.0

He will be formally charged tomorrow

2:15.4

after a third close call for the president by an armed gunman.

2:21.2

Here with me now is Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who was also at the dinner last night.

...

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