Good morning. On Saturday night the annual Washington ritual of the White House correspondents\u2019 dinner descended into chaos as the US president and first lady were evacuated after the event was interrupted by gunfire.<\/p>\n
Journalists ducked under tables as authorities rushed Donald Trump<\/a> and members of his cabinet out of the room. The president and his wife were unharmed, and a suspect is in custody \u2013 identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from southern California. In today\u2019s newsletter, I will bring you the latest updates on what we know about the incident. First, the headlines.<\/p>\n Five big stories<\/p>\n UK politics | Labour figures from across rival factions have begun circulating informal proposals for an \u201corderly transition\u201d of power<\/a> away from Keir Starmer, the Guardian understands, shifting their discussions from whether the prime minister could be removed to how.<\/p>\n Europe news | Private jets laden with the spoils of those whose wealth swelled during Viktor Orb\u00e1n\u2019s years in power have been taking off from Vienna, while other individuals are racing to invest their assets abroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n Trade | UK business leaders have called on the government to build an EU-style \u201ctrade bazooka\u201d to protect Britain\u2019s economic interests<\/a> in response to the latest tariff threats from Donald Trump.<\/p>\n Middle East | Hopes of a breakthrough in negotiations between Iran and the US faded further on Sunday<\/a>, amid a deepening sense of a deadlock in the nearly two-month-long conflict.<\/p>\n Science | Simultaneous exposure to toxic chemicals and climate change\u2019s impacts likely contributes to the broad global drop in fertility<\/a>.<\/p>\n In depth: \u2018like a scene from a dozen Hollywood movies\u2019Agents draw their guns at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night. Photograph: Mandel Ngan\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n The Guardian\u2019s Washington bureau chief David Smith was at the Washington Hilton on Saturday as events unfolded, and described chaotic scenes<\/a>. He saw men in tuxedos, women in dresses, diving under the circular tables, \u201clike a scene from a dozen Hollywood movies, but now it was happening to me, right here, right now.\u201d<\/p>\n David has since spoken about the experience to Nour Haydar for our Full Story podcast, which you can listen to here<\/a>.<\/p>\n What is the White House correspondents\u2019 association dinner?<\/p>\n The annual event is a tradition that dates back to the 1920s, and is a fixture in the US political calendar. Most presidents have attended at least one, and often make self-deprecating remarks for the entertainment of the journalists who spend most of the year diligently reporting on the administration.<\/p>\n There is also usually a \u201ccomedy roast\u201d from a guest speaker, although perhaps with an eye on how sensitive Trump can be to criticism, this year\u2019s main event was due to be magician Oz Pearlman.<\/p>\n Perhaps the most infamous incident \u2013 prior to this weekend\u2019s shooting \u2013 was in 2011, when Barack Obama taunted Donald Trump to his face<\/a> over the latter\u2019s obsession with where Obama had been born. Many observers have linked Trump\u2019s decision to run for the presidency in 2016 with the events of that evening.<\/p>\n What do we know about what happened?<\/p>\n Shortly after 8.30pm on Saturday, gunshots were heard at the Washington Hilton, triggering panic among the roughly 2,000 guests inside the ballroom. Secret Service agents rushed in shouting instructions as journalists and officials dived under tables, and Trump and other senior figures were quickly evacuated.<\/p>\n The shots came from an attacker who attempted to breach a security checkpoint near the event while carrying multiple weapons, including a shotgun, handgun and knives. He was intercepted by law enforcement before reaching the ballroom but managed to fire, striking a Secret Service officer \u2013 whose ballistic vest prevented serious injury. The suspect was subdued and arrested at the scene.<\/p>\n The dinner was cancelled but is expected to be rescheduled, while the incident has raised fresh questions about security and the broader climate of political violence in the US.<\/p>\n What do we know about the suspect in custody \u2013 and their motive?<\/p>\n The suspected gunman has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen. From Torrance, a suburb of Los Angeles. He has no record of criminal charges or a civil court history in Los Angeles county, according to a records search.<\/p>\n Jeffery Carroll, the interim police chief for Washington\u2019s metropolitan police department, told reporters \u201cWe do believe he was a guest here at the hotel. We have secured a room here in the hotel, and again, we\u2019ll go through the appropriate procedures to determine what was inside there.\u201d<\/p>\n Acting US attorney general Todd Blanche said in a television interview \u201cWe do believe, based upon just a very preliminary start to understanding what happened, that he was targeting members of the administration.\u201d<\/p>\n Investigators are assessing a manifesto<\/a> reportedly written by the suspect, which included a list of targets for the shooting, ranked from highest to lowest priority, with Trump administration officials at the top. An official familiar with the matter told the Guardian that the manifesto, published by the New York Post, was authentic.<\/p>\n The suspected gunman sent writings listing his grievances against the administration to his family members about 10 minutes before shots were fired, according to White House officials who spoke to the Associated Press.<\/p>\n How has Donald Trump reacted and what happens next?<\/p>\n The US president has used the event as an opportunity to press the case for his planned White House ballroom<\/a>. \u201cWhat happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE,\u201d Trump posted on Truth Social.<\/p>\n The US president then spoke with CBS correspondent Norah O\u2019Donnell about the events in an interview that aired Sunday night on 60 Minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t worried,\u201d he said. Trump told O\u2019Donnell that his curiosity probably slowed the Secret Service\u2019s efforts to rush him to safety. \u201cI wanted to see what was happening,\u201d Trump said. \u201cI wasn\u2019t making it that easy for them. I wanted to see what was going on. I was surrounded by great people. And I probably made them act a little more slowly.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump urged the event to be rescheduled within 30 days, saying \u201cI don\u2019t want to see it be canceled. I think it\u2019s really bad for a crazy person to be able to cancel something like this\u201d. Then, in his typically bombastic style, he added a caveat, saying \u201cIt\u2019s not that I want to go. I\u2019m very busy. I don\u2019t need that.\u201d<\/p>\n What else we\u2019ve been readingSuspended between light and shadow, a freediver meets the gaze of Earth\u2019s largest-toothed predators. Photograph: All About Photo Awards 2026<\/p>\n I\u2019m a sucker for a photo gallery and this one<\/a> showcasing the All About Photo awards winners is a magical, visual feast. Katy Vans, newsletters team<\/p>\n I am about as graceful as a giraffe on roller skates, but like every Londoner I have done my time admiring the skills at the South Bank\u2019s skatepark, which has turned 50. Marianne Eloise celebrates it<\/a>. Martin<\/p>\n The big idea delivers another great read<\/a> on strong borders, highlighting that history shows them to be futile exercises in control, resulting in huge financial costs and preventable human tragedies. Katy<\/p>\n It must be a strange experience to be mourning when your loved ones\u2019 death has been the focus of world attention. Pamela Gordon speaks to Christine Dawood<\/a>, who lost her husband and son on the Titan submarine. Martin<\/p>\n This interview<\/a> with the great actor and director Adjoa Andoh, shines a light on a talent that some people may only recognise from Bridgerton. Katy<\/p>\n SportEnzo Fern\u00e1ndez\u2019s goal put Chelsea in its first FA Cup final since 2022. Photograph: Cameron Smith\/The FA\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Football | Chelsea are into yet another FA Cup final, their 17th overall and the 13th in the last 30 years, after a hard-fought victory at Wembley\u200b over Leeds where they won 1-0<\/a>.<\/p>\n Athletics | Sabastian Sawe, the 30-year-old Kenyan\u200b runner, made history by becoming the first athlete to run a sub-two-hour marathon, finishing the London Marathon<\/a> in 1 hour, 59mins and 30 seconds\u200b. Meanwhile Ethiopian Tigst Assefa defended her title after finishing the women\u2019s race in 2:15:41.<\/p>\n Football | Coventry celebrated their Championship title win with a 3-1<\/a> victory over Wrexham that leaves the Welsh team\u2019s playoff ambitions in the balance.<\/p>\n The front pages Photograph: Guardian<\/p>\n The Guardian leads with \u201cWashington in shock after Trump press gala shooting\u201d. The Financial Times has \u201cQuestions mount over Trump security lapses after brush with alleged shooter\u201d. The Sun\u2019s headline is \u201cBedlam in the ballroom\u201d.<\/p>\n The i reports \u201cKing flies into US with extra security after gunman fails to shoot Trump\u201d. The Times says \u201cTrump hails \u2018brave\u2019 King for US visit after shooting\u201d. The Mail goes with \u201cKing keeps calm and carries on\u201d, while the Mirror characterises it as \u201cKing\u2019s US visit security crisis\u201d. The Telegraph leads with an exclusive \u201cHermer insulted war heroes\u201d.<\/p>\n Today in FocusJapan\u2019s prime minister Sanae Takaichi. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Sanae Takaichi\u2019s push to change Japan\u2019s pacifist constitution<\/p>\n Justin McCurry<\/a> on the political rise of the Japanese prime minister and her plan to amend rules constraining the country\u2019s military.<\/p>\n Cartoon of the day | Tom Gauld Illustration: Tom Gauld\/The GuardianThe Upside<\/p>\n A bit of good news to remind you that the world\u2019s not all bad<\/p>\n \u2018When you\u2019re pregnant, you are a lot more vulnerable. And you have to rely on others in ways that can make you uncomfortable.\u2019 Composite: Victoria Hart\/Getty images<\/p>\n Jillian Gibbs was heavily pregnant recovering from months of hyperemesis gravidarum. She was exhausted, vulnerable and unsure of her readiness for motherhood. One day while out shopping, a stranger gently pointed out that her shoelace was undone \u2013 something she couldn\u2019t see herself due to how pregnant she was \u2013 and kindly offered to tie it for her<\/a>.<\/p>\n This small act reminded her that the world contains compassionate people who look out for others without judgment or expectation; the stranger\u2019s quiet, practical kindness stood out. It affirmed the value of accepting help and highlighted how meaningful simple gestures can be.<\/p>\n You never know when your small act of kindness can make a huge difference to someone else.<\/p>\n