WHCA dinner shooting live updates: Suspected shooter 'sought to assassinate' Trump, Leavitt says

International leaders expressed their shock and pledged their solidarity with the White House early on Sunday, after a suspect allegedly exchanged gunfire with authorities outside the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.

"I am shocked by the scenes at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington overnight," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement. "Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms."

He added that it was a "huge relief" that both Trump and first lady Melania Trump, along with the other attendees, were safe after the event.

The suspect's alleged actions were condemned by members of the governments of Kuwait, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and a host of other countries.

French President Emmanuel Macron decried the incident, saying, "The armed attack targeting the President of the United States last night is unacceptable. Violence has no place in a democracy. I extend my full support to Donald Trump."

"No political hatred can find space in our democracies," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said. "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."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office that he was "shocked" by the event, but glad the president and first lady "were safe and strong."

"We send our wishes for a full and speedy recovery to the wounded police officer and salute the US Secret Service for their swift and decisive action," Netanyahu said, according to his office.

Lebanon's president, Joseph Aoun, sent Trump a cable after the incident, according to his office.

"And President Aoun expressed in his cable full solidarity with President Trump in the face of such regrettable events that target security and stability, affirming his strong condemnation of acts of violence in all their forms, and wishing that the United States of America enjoys security and safety," Aoun's office said.

The chaos that erupted at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner after a suspect charged a security checkpoint brought back memories of the shooting at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a White House deputy chief of staff said early on Sunday.

"Never thought I'd be hitting the ground again after Butler, Pennsylvania, as a result of shots being fired," Dan Scavino Jr., the deputy, said on social media. "Brings back a lot of terrible memories -- I am so thankful that everyone in attendance tonight is okay. We're all in this together, stay strong!"

A gunman fired a barrage of shots at then-candidate Donald Trump in an apparent assassination attempt at a campaign rally in the Pennsylvania city in July 2024.

Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and members of a SWAT team, were gathering late on Saturday near an address in Torrance, California, thought to be associated with the suspect.

Authorities earlier identified Cole Allen, the suspect in the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner incident, as a resident of Torrance, a city southwest of Los Angeles.

The director of the Secret Service praised his staff's response during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner incident, saying they "performed admirably."

"Tonight we saw exactly what our brave men and women do each and every day to protect our protectees," Director Sean M. Curran said in a statement released by the service. "It's not easy and I will tell you that they performed admirably. We got to see what they do."

The suspect's apprehension at a checkpoint "shows that our multi-layered protection works," he said, adding, "And I'm grateful to our partners that help assist us with building these sites and protecting these sites."

Deputy Director Matthew Quinn also released a statement, saying that "a coward attempted to create a national tragedy."

"He underestimated the protective capabilites of the U.S. Secret Service, and was stopped at first contact," Quinn added. "The strength of our layered security posture was evident, with a myriad of countermeasures still ahead. Grateful for the brave men and women of the Secret Service and our valued Law Enforecment partners."