Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed from the glitzy White House correspondents’ dinner at the Washington Hilton as guests dived for cover at the sound of gunfire
Keir Starmer has sent a message of solidarity to Donald Trump after shots were fired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The US President and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed from the glitzy dinner at the Washington Hilton by the Secret Service as guests dived for cover as gunshots rang out.
The alleged gunman, said to have been carrying a shotgun and handgun, has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.
Mr Trump told a press briefing afterwards: “My impression is he was a lone wolf whack job. These are crazy people.”
In a statement this morning, the PM said: “I am shocked by the scenes at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington overnight.
READ MORE: Suspected gunman armed with ‘multiple weapons’ identified as Trump calls him ‘lone wolf whack job’READ MORE: Melania Trump’s chilling words as gunshots rang out at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
“Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. It is a huge relief that @POTUS, the First Lady and all those attending are safe.”
Top Cabinet Minister Darren Jones told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: “These are remarkable scenes. The Prime Minister has, this morning, sent a message to the president of the United States in solidarity for the events that took place.
“As you would imagine, with the visit of His Majesty the King this week, our teams are working closely to ensure that security arrangements are put appropriately in place.”
Asked if there are any extra concerns for the King’s safety during his upcoming state visit to the US, Mr Jones said: “As you would imagine, the Government and the Palace take the security of His Majesty very seriously, and there were already extensive discussions taking place, which will continue over the coming days.”
The King is heading to Washington for a state visit to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. The high-stakes trip comes at a fraught moment for the US-UK relationship, with Mr Trump repeatedly lashing out at Mr Starmer over the war in Iran.
The US President has criticised the PM for refusing to join his bombing campaign and derided the state of the British Navy. He said Mr Starmer was not Winston Churchill and compared him to Neville Chamberlain.
Diplomats hope the state visit could soothe tensions as Mr Trump’s love of the Royal Family is well known.
Tory Chris Philp said the King’s security should be “urgently reviewed” in the wake of the shooting.