Key Facts

• On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot outside the Washington Hilton.
• Forty-five years later, a man armed with guns and knives opened fire at a White House Correspondents' Association dinner attended by President Trump.
• The suspect, Cole Allen, carried a shotgun, handgun, and knives.
• President Trump was evacuated along with the first lady, vice president, and Cabinet members.
• Trump called the suspect a "lone wolf, a whack job," and said such people must be dealt with.
• Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the suspect likely aimed to target administration officials, possibly including the president.
• Democrats called attention to wider gun violence issues in the U.S. and urged background checks.
• The article compares U.S. presidential assassination risk with that of other countries, noting that political violence often reflects political instability.