Trump told the Secret Service he wasn’t going anywhere when the WHCA shots rang out, and what he said he wanted to do next stunned his interviewer

President Trump didn’t make things easy for his security detail when shots rang out at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner this past Saturday night. As detailed by TMZ, the President revealed in a sit-down interview with Norah O’Donnell that aired on April 26, 2026, that he actually resisted being ushered away from the scene because he wanted to see what was happening. His curiosity about the situation was front and center, even as his Secret Service team was working to secure his safety.

The President explained that he was sitting next to First Lady Melania Trump when the commotion began, right around the moment they were watching a performance by Oz Pearlman, known as The Mentalist. When the loud noises occurred, he said he was initially hoping it was just a tray of dishes falling, which he noted happens often in ballrooms. It quickly became clear the situation was far more serious.

As the Secret Service moved in, the President admitted he was not exactly compliant. He told O’Donnell, “Well, what happened is, it was a little bit me. I wanted to see what was happening, and I wasn’t making it that easy for ’em.” He recalled telling the agents, “Wait a minute, wait a minute. Lemme see. Wait a minute.” This hesitation from the leader of the country likely forced the agents to act with even more intensity as they worked to get him out of the room.

He joked an NFL team should sign the shooter for his speed

The President eventually followed instructions, describing a process of walking toward the exit while being told to get down on the floor. He mentioned walking out bent over before dropping to the floor alongside the First Lady as agents guided them through the ballroom. He praised Melania for her composure throughout, noting she was “very strong” and “smart” during the incident.

When asked about the shooter, identified by federal authorities as Cole Thomas Allen, the President remarked on the suspect’s speed, saying he moved “like a blur” past metal detectors before opening fire. He even joked that an NFL team should sign Allen for his speed, though he quickly acknowledged the severity of what had occurred. The President also confirmed he had read the manifesto attributed to the shooter, characterizing him as a “sick person” who had gone through a lot of changes. It is worth noting that amid broader scrutiny of the administration’s security decisions, Marco Rubio’s green card revocations based on a single social media post have drawn separate criticism over the use of unverified information to drive government action.

The President described the counter-assault team as “very impressive” and stated they did a great job neutralizing the threat before anyone was seriously injured. He acknowledged that adjustments could be made to security protocols, such as moving equipment further away from the venue, but remained confident in the professionals tasked with his protection. He also mentioned a sense of camaraderie that emerged in the room after the immediate danger had passed, describing people from across the political spectrum coming together in a way he hadn’t seen in a while.

Trump expressed his desire to reschedule the Correspondents’ Dinner within the next 30 days, arguing that canceling would be playing into the hands of those who wish to disrupt the country. He noted he had been looking forward to making a speech at the dinner before the incident occurred, saying, “I was gonna hit people really hard with humor.” The President also reaffirmed his plans to build a new, more secure ballroom on the White House grounds, currently scheduled for 2028, pointing out that the current hotel setup presents inherent security challenges. Questions about security and White House-adjacent events have surfaced on other fronts as well, with Trump’s crypto partner joining him on Air Force One to Florida drawing scrutiny the same week.

The President reaffirmed his commitment to the Correspondents’ Dinner as a vital event, encouraging the association to reschedule it soon, provided the security is handled appropriately.