Lee Zeldin 'escorted to safety' after foiled attack on White House Correspondents' gala

WASHINGTON — Lee Zeldin, head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was among President Donald Trump’s Cabinet members safely evacuated from Saturday night’s White House Correspondents' Association dinner after authorities stopped an apparent planned attack on administration officials.

Zeldin’s spokesman Daniel Gall told Newsday in a statement that Zeldin and his wife, Diana, were "quickly escorted to safety," after shots rang out at the Washington Hilton.

Though the alleged shooter was detained and prevented from getting near the ballroom packed with journalists and top political figures, the incident has reignited concerns about the safety of the president, who survived two previous assassination attempts, and of political leaders on both sides of the aisle who have experienced an increase in threats.

None of Long Island’s congressional delegation was at the event.

Previous attacker

Zeldin, a former Long Island congressman from Shirley, thwarted an attack while campaigning for governor in 2022.

Asked if Zeldin had new concerns about his security and that of other officials in the wake of Saturday’s attack, Gall invoked Trump’s remarks at a late Saturday news briefing, saying: "As President Trump made clear, this incident will not deter him; his love for the American people and this country remains unwavering."

"Hatred and violence will not win," Gall said. "Administrator Zeldin looks forward to attending the rescheduled event to celebrate the First Amendment and honoring the vital relationship between the press and political leaders."

Trump, speaking to Fox News in a Sunday morning phone interview, said alleged shooter Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, about 20 miles southwest of Los Angeles, had a manifesto that is being reviewed by investigators. Trump lamented that federal officials were not flagged about Cole's writings sooner, after they were reportedly brought to the attention of local authorities in Connecticut by a relative.

'Very troubled guy'

Trump described the alleged shooter as a "very troubled guy."

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, appearing on a number of Sunday morning political TV shows, said it appeared Allen traveled to Washington by train with the intent of targeting Trump administration officials.

"From our preliminary investigation, it does appear the suspect was targeting members of the administration," Blanche told CNN’s "State of the Union."

Allen, according to security camera footage of the attack posted on the president’s social media accounts, appeared to try to run past a security checkpoint before he was brought down by federal agents. A U.S. Secret Service agent was shot, but protected by his bullet-resistant vest, and is expected to recover, Blanche said.

Renewed security questions

As investigators continue to probe Allen’s motive, the thwarted attack has reignited questions about security protocols surrounding the president and the line of succession. Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), the next officials in the line of succession, were all in the Washington Hilton ballroom for the gala, as were other top officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Asked whether so many top officials should have been gathered in the same location, Blanche told ABCs "This Week" the security protocols were successful in stopping the attempted attack.

"The fact that the vice president and other leadership were there last night in one room is why we had such a robust security surrounding the place, inside the place, and it's why we are all safe," Blanche said.

Members of Long Island’s congressional delegation Sunday repeated their previous calls for an end to political violence.

Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said the bipartisan panel has requested a briefing from the Secret Service, and called on lawmakers to “come together” to pass a bill to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security “so its personnel have the resources to succeed in their no-fail missions, especially ahead of the World Cup.”

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) called the growing number of attacks on political figures "alarming and unacceptable," in a statement to Newsday.

“I am grateful that the President and all attendees are safe," Suozzi said. "All leaders, on both sides of the aisle, must work to reduce hateful and divisive rhetoric.”

Rep. Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre), also in a statement, said, “Political violence has no place in this country and we must condemn last night’s actions targeting officials.”

Rep. Nick LaLota (R- Amityville) said the “presidential assassination attempt” underscored the need for Congress to finally pass a bill to fully fund the DHS, which has been operating without a funding bill for the past two months.

“Regardless of party or politics, political violence has no place in America,” LaLota said in a post on X. “We must do better and we must stand united against it.”