FBI Director Kash Patel,Acting Attorney General ToddBlancheand U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro spoke Monday afternoon about the man accused of opening fire during the White House Correspondents' Dinner, and how he moved in the hours leading up to the terrifying attack Saturday night.
The officials gave an official breakdown of the timeline leading up to the black-tie event … stating Cole Allen -- a 31-year-old part-time teacher from Torrance, California -- initially made his hotel reservation on April 6, booking a three-night stay for April 24-26.
He departed Los Angeles by train last Tuesday and made a stop in Chicago on Thursday. The next day, he arrived in D.C. and checked into the Washington Hilton Friday afternoon, the officials said.
The press conference was held shortly after Allen was arraigned on three charges in D.C. federal court -- attempting to assassinate the president, transporting a firearm and ammunition with intent to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. He did not enter a plea.
Melania Trumpis demanding ABC fire Jimmy Kimmel... blasting the late-night host as a "coward" and accusing him of spreading "hateful and violent rhetoric" after his jokes about her family.
The First Lady unloaded in a fiery statement Monday ... saying Kimmel's monologue "isn't comedy" and claiming his comments are helping fuel division across the country. Kimmel's roast of the event aired Thursday night, days before the WHCD shooting in D.C. Saturday night.
"His words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America,” she said ... adding that people like Kimmel “shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”
Melania also accused the network of shielding Kimmel from consequences ... saying he “hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him.”
Erika Kirk was whisked away during the White House Correspondents' Dinner after an armed individual rushed the building and gunshots rang out during the event ... and she was seen on video getting incredibly emotional as she left.
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In one clip, shared online by CNN reporter and anchor Sara Sidner, Erika is seen moments after chaos erupted Saturday night ... while crying, she appears to say "I just want to go home" as she's ushered out of the building.
Erika Kirk was spotted in tears and clearly shaken up after the shooting took place at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
10:30 PM ET -- Trump released images and video of the suspect, who he called a "sick" person who was armed with "multiple" weapons.
The video, seen below, shows the man sprinting while shooting towards the location of the White House Correspondent's Dinner from the lobby of the Washington Hilton. Security immediately jumps into action to aprehend him.
10:15 PM ET -- The shooter has been identified as a 30-year-old male from Los Angeles, according to CNN. Based on information that is surfacing, it appears the man began shooting at the metal detector and did not get through it.
9:40 PM ET-- The White House Correspondents' Dinner has been canceled. President Trump there will be a redo within to the next 30 days.
A gunman threw the White House Correspondents' Dinner into mad chaos Saturday night, firing shots in the lobby near the ballroom where President Trump and many other administraiton officials were having dinner.
The room was filled with several thousand journalists who were celebrating the evening, when someone in the lobby fired at least 6 shots.
President Trump has addressed the media to discuss details about the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner Saturday evening.
He said the suspect was a "very sick" person armed with multiple weapons who was taken down by "brave" Secret Service members. He also confirmed one officer was shot from a "very close" distance with a "very powerful" gun, but was saved by his bulletproof vest.
Trump shared a video of the shooting as well as a photo of the assailant being apprehended by police on Truth Social, which can be seen below.
The biggest players in politics gathered for the White House Correspondents' Dinner Saturday night ... proving they're just as stylish as any Hollywood awards show.
Karoline Leavitt wore a sparkling black dress to the event ... giving a wave while photos got a look at her growing baby bump.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a genuine A-lister on his arm -- his wife, actress Cheryl Hines. And, UFC president Dana White flexed his style muscles in a perfectly tailored suit.
Melania Trump is running a honeypot operation out of the White House ... as in, she's adding a couple new bee colonies to bump up honey production.
The First Lady just announced an expansion of the White House honey program -- yes, that's a thing -- with a newly installed, fully functioning beehive on the South Lawn.
Melania's hive is a miniature version of the White House ... it's crafted by a local artisan and it's home to a pair of bee colonies. The White House says the new hives are expected to increase annual honey production at the White House by an estimated 30 pounds.
The Congressman from Florida was reacting to Carlson's mea culpa, saying he felt partly responsible for Trump's 2024 victory. Carlson, who strongly opposes the Iran war, says he misled millions of fans.
Fine says Carlson has lost credibility in the Republican Party and his influence has waned, but Jacob fired back ... Carlson is still super popular on social, so it's a blow to the GOP.
Fine then cuts things short, giving Jacob a "Hebrew Hammer" as a fabulous parting gift.
Rep. James Comer is telling people not to worry about aliens snatching up American scientists, because he says hostile foreign nations are more likely to blame. Great!
The reality is nearly a dozen scientists with knowledge of America's nuclear and/or space programs have either died or gone missing since 2022 ... and House Oversight Committee Chairman joined us Tuesday on "TMZ Live" to talk about government investigations into the mystery.
Comer makes it clear he doesn't think aliens are beaming up scientists to learn about humanity's weaknesses -- as some are theorizing online -- though he knows some of his colleagues think otherwise.
Instead, the Congressman from Kentucky says it's more likely the usual suspects are involved ... Russian, Iranian or Chinese agents who want info on the USA's nuclear capabilities.
ICYMI ... the mystery surrounding 11 scientists is now on the radar of the FBI, and even President Trump was briefed on it last week.
Tucker Carlson’s son has bounced from J.D. Vance’s office ... but his decision had nothing to do with the fiery feud between President Donald Trump and his dad.
A source with direct knowledge tells TMZ ... Buckley Carlson is out as deputy press secretary in the VP’s office ... a call he made after an "intense" year in the role. We're told it's common for people to depart the WH after a year ... and this has nothing whatsoever to do with Trump and his pop's bad blood.
Obviously, the timing set off a lot of speculation ... since Trump has been going scorched-earth on Tucker lately -- calling him “low IQ,” “overrated,” and even a “broken man” in recent Truth Social posts -- while Tucker’s been firing back over everything from Iran policy to Trump’s rhetoric, accusing him of crossing serious lines.
Tucker reportedly tried to personally talk Trump out of striking Iran and has since become one of his loudest conservative critics on the issue -- turning their once-friendly relationship into a full-on public slugfest.
But again ... we heard from our source that Buckley made a professionally-based decision-- not a personal one ... as his dad and Trump continue to lock horns in the headlines.
Rep. Lauren Boebert is firing back at Dave Chappelle after the comedian blasted her for using a selfie they snapped together to "weaponize" his transgender jokes for political gain ... she says she was just keeping it real.
TMZ DC got the Congresswoman from Colorado on Capitol Hill and our intrepid producer Jacob asked her about Dave's recent comments taking aim at her and the rest of the GOP.
Boebert sounds like she's not feelin' the heat Dave is putting on Republicans ... indeed, the only one feeling any heat here is Jacob ... he's complaining about the lack of A/C in government buildings, and starts sweating bullets when a bunch of folks pile into an elevator with him and Boebert.
Pope Leo XIV and Donald Trump have been going at it this week ... and now cops say His Holiness' brother may have found himself caught in the crosshairs.
On Wednesday, the New Lenox Police Department in Illinois said officers responded to a "reported bomb threat" directed at a residence on Sojourn Road ... reportedly the home of the Chicago Pope's brother, John Prevost.
The cops say they evacuated the neighborhood and called in an explosives K9 unit ... but nothing turned up and they dubbed the threat "unsubstantiated."
According to Chicago Tribune, New Lenox Police Chief Micah Nuesse said the investigation into the incident remains "active and ongoing."
A man tried to jump a barrier at the White House Thursday ... but he didn't get far, TMZ has learned.
A Secret Service official tells TMZ ... shortly after 11:30 AM, a man was detained by uniformed U.S. Secret Service police officers after jumping over a vehicle bollard near the Treasury Building on the northeast side of the complex.
We're told officers encountered the individual near a pedestrian gate, where he engaged in a physical altercation before being taken into custody.
Kristi Noem may have gotten the boot from the White House ... but her swanky private jet didn't!
According toWall Street Journal, the TrumpAdministration will be keeping the $70M aircraft she leased during her time as Department of Homeland Security Secretary.
Officials familiar with the matter told WSJ that Melania Trump's office will have access to the insanely lavish jet -- which is much fancier than most government planes -- as will select Cabinet secretaries.
The plane reportedly has a queen bed, showers, a kitchen, 4 flat-screen TVs and a bar ... making it nicer than Air Force Two, which just has a pullout couch bed.
President Donald Trump was all about trading the world of politics for playground clout -- turning the White House lawn into his own autograph booth for a pack of hyped-up kids at an Easter egg hunt.
Honestly, it's an exceptionally ridiculous scene -- Trump ditching the heavy politics for kid duty, posted up Monday signing doodles while one super-keen kid practically shoved paper in his face ... and Trump, never missing a beat, pitching the others on flipping his autograph for $25K on eBay.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Trump signing without a little detour -- even in full family-friendly mode, he slipped back into form, taking a swipe at former President Joe Biden and telling the kids he actually signs his name ... unlike Biden and his autopen.
