World leaders expressed shock and solidarity with United States President Donald Trump after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., prompting widespread condemnation of political violence.
The incident occurred on Saturday when a man armed with multiple weapons charged a security checkpoint before being apprehended by U.S. Secret Service agents.
Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and members of the Cabinet were evacuated from the event.
One officer was injured in the confrontation but survived due to protective equipment. “saved by the fact that he was wearing obviously a very good bulletproof vest”, Trump told reporters during a press conference at the White House following the incident.
Authorities later identified the suspect as Cole Allen of Torrance, California, who remains in custody as investigations continue.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “shocked” by the events. “Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” he said in a post on X.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence, stating: “There is no place for violence, not against political leaders and not against anyone. This includes not only the United States; it includes, first and foremost, the State of Israel, from within.”
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently mediating between Washington and Tehran, also denounced the attack in a post on X. “Relieved to know that President Trump, the First Lady, and other attendees are safe. My thoughts and prayers are with him, and I wish him continued safety and well-being,” Sharif said.
European leaders delivered a unified response. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated: “Violence has no place in politics, ever.”
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas added: “An event meant to honour a free press should never become a scene of fear. I wish the injured officer a swift recovery.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also expressed support, saying: “I wish to express my full solidarity and most sincere closeness to President Trump, to First Lady Melania, to Vice President Vance, and to all those present for what happened at last night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.”
“No political hatred can find space in our democracies. We will not allow fanaticism to poison the places of free debate and information. The defense of the culture of confrontation must remain the insurmountable bulwark against every intolerant drift, to safeguard the values that found our Nations,” Meloni added.
