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WASHINGTON — A chorus of bipartisan criticism is mounting over the security loopholes at venue for the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner — while President Trump and his allies insisted Saturday’s shooting proves the need for his planned über-secure White House ballroom.
Critics slammed the security loopholes that allowed guests to check into the historic Washington Hilton hotel without undergoing weapons screenings from the outside.
Authorities say that’s how Cole Tomas Allen was able to sneak a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives into the building where President Trump, most of his cabinet, and many top members of congress were mingling with journalists.
As has been the standard practice in past WHCA dinners, the weapons screenings took place at a checkpoint on the floor above the Washington Hilton’s ballroom, where the event was taking place.
“While the security perimeter outside of the ballroom worked, and the Secret Service and Federal Law Enforcement acted swiftly to secure the ballroom and move the President and high level officials out of harms way, the fact is there [were] numerous glaring security issues,” Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) said on X.
Lawler raised concerns with the fact that there were no photo ID checks or a verified list of attendees, that the building was still open to the public, and the only metal detectors were at the ballroom checkpoint.
While the security perimeter outside of the ballroom worked, and the Secret Service and Federal Law Enforcement acted swiftly to secure the ballroom and move the President and high level officials out of harms way, the fact is there numerous glaring security issues:
1) no photo…
“Without getting into details, I will just say, there was not a good handle on how many members of Congress were at the event and where they were in the room,” he added.
“There needs to be a complete and thorough after action as to how the gunman got from his hotel room into a secure area with numerous guns.”
Allen, allegedly armed to the teeth, tried to run through the magnetometer security point and opened fire on cops before he was taken down.
Authorities say there was multi-layered security for the event, and that it worked as designed. The Secret Service said President Trump — who survived two prior assassination attempts — was never in danger.
Those lax procedures allowed journalists and other guests to attend parties at the Washington Hilton before the main event without having a ticket to that vaunted dinner.
Fellow New York Rep. Ritchie Torres (D) echoed those concerns.
“No security screening was required to enter an event featuring the President of the United States, the Speaker of the House, Cabinet Secretaries, and Members of Congress?” Torres posted on X.
“This failure of even the most basic security protocols—as inexplicable as it is inexcusable—demands an immediate investigation.”
No security screening was required to enter an event featuring the President of the United States, the Speaker of the House, Cabinet Secretaries, and Members of Congress?
This failure of even the most basic security protocols—as inexplicable as it is inexcusable—demands an… pic.twitter.com/e88kzkycvu
Even Allen, 31, the alleged shooter, openly mocked the “insane” lack of security at the venue in his manifesto, which was found after the shooting.
“If I was an Iranian agent, instead of an American citizen, I could have brought a damn Ma Deuce [heavy machine gun] in here and no one would have noticed s–t,” the sicko gloated in his manifesto.
“The one thing that I immediately noticed walking into the hotel is the sense of arrogance,” he added.
“I walk in with multiple weapons and not a single person there considers the possibility that I could be a threat.”
The suspect had opened fire and attempted to barge past the security checkpoint to get into the ballroom itself. Ultimately, he was intercepted and pinned down by security.
Allen had a hotel booked at the Washington Hilton during his attempted shooting spree, according to officials. This allowed him to move freely through the building, even as the nation’s top leaders gathered there.
Critics underscored how the hotel was open to other patrons while hosting the president, first lady, vice president, speaker of the house, and an entourage of cabinet members, as well as other high-ranking officials.
The suspect had clearly gotten into the hotel with multiple firearms and knives without detection.
Trump and his allies harped on that point while doubling down on the push to complete construction of the White House ballroom in the wake of the shooting.
“What 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,” President Trump posted on Truth Social.
“This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House. It cannot be built fast enough!”
Technically, the dinner is hosted by the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), which represents reporters who cover the administration.
It’s an annual event to raise money for scholarships.
Trump, 79, who was ridiculed during his attendance at the WHCA’s dinner in 2011, had skipped the event every year of his presidency except this one.
But he has indicated that a future White House ballroom could be used to accommodate the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in the future.
Even some Dems agreed.
“We were there front and center. That venue wasn’t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government,” Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) posted on X.
“After witnessing last night, drop the TDS [Trump Derangement Syndrome] and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these.”
We were there front and center.
That venue wasn’t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government.
After witnessing last night, drop the TDS and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these. pic.twitter.com/eeUBnlSe5y
A torrent of MAGA-aligned influencers and lawmakers echoed that call to complete the White House ballroom project, something Trump has sought since the Obama era.
“Tonight is one more reason for the new White House Trump Ballroom…” Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, said.
Tonight is one more reason for the new White House Trump Ballroom…
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) April 26, 2026“We’d better never again hear a peep from anyone complaining about a White House ballroom,” Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) wrote on X.
Trump’s bid to construct a sprawling, 90,000 square-foot ballroom — larger than the actual White House itself — has been bogged down by litigation, particularly from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has raised process concerns with how the president has pursued it.
Last month, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon blocked Trump from carrying on with the project unless Congress gives him the go-ahead. Shortly after that, an appeals court allowed Trump to proceed for now until a hearing in June.
In addition to the ballroom construction, Trump has confirmed that his administration is working on a sophisticated military project on that site.
The planned ballroom sits above the White House’s doomsday bunker, which is built to withstand a nuclear bomb. It has been widely understood that Trump is upgrading that facility.
Trump heaped praise on the Secret Service and other law enforcement who secured the Washington Hilton. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche also stressed that security did it’s job.
“To the contrary, it was a massive security success story,” Blanche insisted on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. “This suspect barely breached the perimeter.”
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