Erdoğan expresses solidarity with Trump after Washington shooting

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump to discuss the armed attack that took place in Washington, describing the incident as a “cowardly act against democracy and freedom of the press.”

According to a statement from the Turkish leader’s office, “Our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump. During the conversation, he conveyed words of support to the U.S. President regarding the attempted attack that occurred at a dinner with White House correspondents in Washington.”

Erdoğan also condemned the incident, calling it a “heinous act against democracy and freedom of the press,” and wished a speedy recovery to the injured security officer.

The shooting occurred shortly after 8:30 p.m. Eastern time on April 25 at the Washington Hilton hotel, where Trump was attending the White House Correspondents' Association dinner — his first appearance at the event as a sitting president.

According to sources, a suspect identified as Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, attempted to rush past a security checkpoint near the main magnetometer screening area just outside the ballroom while dinner was underway.

He fired at least one shot before being pursued and apprehended. One law enforcement officer was struck in a bullet-resistant vest and is expected to recover fully. No other injuries were reported.

Trump, who was seated at the head table alongside First Lady Melania Trump, was immediately surrounded by Secret Service agents and evacuated from the venue. Vice President JD Vance and several senior Cabinet members — including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — were also escorted out.

The approximately 2,600 attendees, including hundreds of journalists and senior officials, were instructed to take cover as shouts of “shots fired” spread through the venue.

By Tamilla Hasanova