New York politicians reacted on Sunday to a shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner in Washington, DC, an event that President Donald Trump and members of his administration were attending Saturday night.
Gov. Kathy Hochul swiftly reacted to the April 25 shooting on X, thanking law enforcement for their quick action in responding to the danger.
“Thankful for the swift response by law enforcement and the Secret Service at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner tonight,” she wrote. “Praying for the safety of everyone in attendance.”
The president and other high-ranking officials in attendance were not harmed during the incident, reports indicate, which took place at the Washington Hilton near the White House. In a briefing following the incident, Trump said a Secret Service agent was shot in the chest but was saved by his bulletproof vest.
“A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service,” the president said.
“The chaos in America must end”
The chaotic evening reportedly involved 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, CA, the suspected lone gunman whom Secret Service police apprehended before he could enter the ballroom where the event was taking place. Reports indicate the suspect was in an exchange of gunfire during the confrontation.
Law enforcement personnel detain Cole Tomas Allen, a suspect in the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, in Washington, D.C., U.S. April 25, 2026. DONALD J TRUMP via Truth Social/Handout via REUTERS
Inside the venue, Secret Service stormed the event, instructed attendees, many of them journalists and politicians and their families, to take cover under their tables while agents ascertained the threat level.
Reactions from New York state and city officials immediately followed and spilled into Sunday morning. Their swift reaction from both sides of the political spectrum underscored a renewed sense of unease over political violence and the safety of public figures.
“Thankful for the swift law enforcement action to protect everyone from gunfire at the White House correspondents’ dinner,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (Brooklyn) said. “Praying for the safety of those who may remain in harm’s way. The violence and chaos in America must end.”
As of Sunday morning, Mayor Zohran Mamdani had not released a statement about the incident, but some members of the NYC Council condemned the violence, including Republican Frank Morano (Staten Island).
“I am grateful this morning that President Donald Trump is safe and that, thankfully, there were no reported injuries to those in attendance at last night’s frightening incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” Morano said while commending the president’s response to the shooting.
“In the face of yet another threat, he remained composed, expressed gratitude to law enforcement, and made clear that we cannot allow fear to dictate how we live or govern,” he added. “That kind of steadiness matters.”
Like Jeffries, Morano condemned the violence and zeroed in on political violence.
“Political violence isn’t just unacceptable, it is corrosive to the very foundation of our democracy,” he said. “We must recommit ourselves to resolving our differences through debate, dialogue, and the rule of law. Last night could have ended very differently. Today, we should all be thankful and resolved to do better as a country.”
Meanwhile, authorities have not yet confirmed that Allen, who had been staying as a guest at the hotel, was targeting President Trump. However, he remains in custody and is being charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and with assault of a federal officer, according to an article in the New York Times.
The investigation remains ongoing.