Acting US attorney general says shooting likely targeted Trump administration officials

Published 26 Apr, 2026 05:53pm 1 min read

US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche ​said on Sunday that he believes that ‌the alleged White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter was targeting Trump administration officials.

“It does appear that he did, in ​fact, have set out to target folks ​that work in the administration, likely including the ⁠President,” Blanche told NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” ​adding that the suspect likely travelled by train ​from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington, DC.

The suspect will be formally charged in federal court on ​Monday with assault of a federal officer and ​discharging a firearm in an attempt to kill a federal ‌officer, ⁠Blanche said.

Blanche said the suspect was not cooperating with investigators as of Sunday morning.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed ​out of ​the White ⁠House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington by Secret Service agents on Saturday ​night after a man opened fire ​on security ⁠personnel nearby.

The man fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a checkpoint in ⁠the ​Washington Hilton hotel before being ​tackled and arrested, officials have said.

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