After a gunman rushed past a security checkpoint and into the lobby near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday night in Washington, D.C., Florida politicians responded to the incident that included President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other top members of the Trump administration that were in attendance.President Trump, Vice President Vance and other top officials were ushered out of the ballroom of the Washington Hilton Hotel as the suspect, later identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was restrained by law enforcement officials in the lobby.A U.S. Secret Service agent was injured after a bullet hit his protective vest. Trump, Vance and other members of the Trump administration at the event were uninjured.According to the Associated Press, Allen was uninjured but was taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation.REP. JARED MOSKOWITZ (D-FL 23) “I am at the #WHCD. I want to thank law enforcement, Capital police. I personally want to thank Steve Scalise who grabbed me into a secure room.””Here is @SteveScalise taking me with him. Again, I am thankful to him and to law enforcement.Just 2 people who previously had assassination attempts against them, Steve’s more serious. It’s been 8 years since the shooting in Parkland at my HS Marjory Stoneman Douglas.”Moskowitz represents parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties in the U.S. House of Representatives.REP. MIKE HARIDOPOLOS (R-FL 8)“Political violence has no place in America—period. Praying for the safety of everyone attending the White House Correspondents’ Dinner tonight.”“The Department of Homeland Security, an agency Democrats have refused to fund for over 70 days, includes the United States Secret Service, the brave men and women who protect our nation’s leaders and safeguarded hundreds of Americans tonight.”Haridopolos represents Indian River and Brevard counties in the House.The latest: WPBF 25 News coverage on PoliticsREP. LOIS FRANKEL (D-FL 22)“Grateful everyone is safe after the frightening shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.Respectful discourse—not violence—must guide us forward.The violence has to stop.”Frankel represents parts of Palm Beach County in the U.S. House.SEN. RICK SCOTT“Thank God everyone at the WHCA is safe tonight. I’m incredibly grateful for the heroic and dedicated work of the @SecretService in moving quickly to neutralize the threat and protect @POTUS, FLOTUS, and everyone else. Anne and I are keeping everyone in our prayers. We will never let chaos, crime, and violence succeed. Law and order WILL prevail.”“Once again, someone tried to kill President Trump, and this time the perpetrator could have killed the Vice President and most of the cabinet. I agree with Senator Johnson. We need DHS and secret service funded immediately. No more delays, no more excuses.”SEN. ASHLEY MOODY“Thankful for the quick and brave response of the Secret Service and law enforcement.”Get the latest political updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
WASHINGTON —
After a gunman rushed past a security checkpoint and into the lobby near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday night in Washington, D.C., Florida politicians responded to the incident that included President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other top members of the Trump administration that were in attendance.
President Trump, Vice President Vance and other top officials were ushered out of the ballroom of the Washington Hilton Hotel as the suspect, later identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was restrained by law enforcement officials in the lobby.
A U.S. Secret Service agent was injured after a bullet hit his protective vest. Trump, Vance and other members of the Trump administration at the event were uninjured.
According to the Associated Press, Allen was uninjured but was taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation.
REP. JARED MOSKOWITZ (D-FL 23)
“I am at the #WHCD. I want to thank law enforcement, Capital police. I personally want to thank Steve Scalise who grabbed me into a secure room.”
“Here is @SteveScalise taking me with him. Again, I am thankful to him and to law enforcement.
Just 2 people who previously had assassination attempts against them, Steve’s more serious.
It’s been 8 years since the shooting in Parkland at my HS Marjory Stoneman Douglas.”
Moskowitz represents parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties in the U.S. House of Representatives.
REP. MIKE HARIDOPOLOS (R-FL 8)
“Political violence has no place in America—period. Praying for the safety of everyone attending the White House Correspondents’ Dinner tonight.”
“The Department of Homeland Security, an agency Democrats have refused to fund for over 70 days, includes the United States Secret Service, the brave men and women who protect our nation’s leaders and safeguarded hundreds of Americans tonight.”
Haridopolos represents Indian River and Brevard counties in the House.
Getty Images
From left to right: Florida U.S. House or Representative members Jared Moskowitz (D-23), Mike Haridopolos (R-8), Lois Frankel (D-22) responded after a gunman entered the lobby of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, April 25, 2026. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance attended the dinner.
The latest: WPBF 25 News coverage on Politics
REP. LOIS FRANKEL (D-FL 22)
“Grateful everyone is safe after the frightening shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Respectful discourse—not violence—must guide us forward.
The violence has to stop.”
Frankel represents parts of Palm Beach County in the U.S. House.
SEN. RICK SCOTT
“Thank God everyone at the WHCA is safe tonight. I’m incredibly grateful for the heroic and dedicated work of the @SecretService in moving quickly to neutralize the threat and protect @POTUS, FLOTUS, and everyone else. Anne and I are keeping everyone in our prayers. We will never let chaos, crime, and violence succeed. Law and order WILL prevail.”
“Once again, someone tried to kill President Trump, and this time the perpetrator could have killed the Vice President and most of the cabinet.
I agree with Senator Johnson. We need DHS and secret service funded immediately. No more delays, no more excuses.”
SEN. ASHLEY MOODY
“Thankful for the quick and brave response of the Secret Service and law enforcement.”
Get the latest political updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.