King Charles is travelling to the US this coming week (Image: Getty)
King Charles’s state visit to the US this coming week has come to be at the centre of discussions after the latest shooting attempt against Donald Trump over the weekend. Chaos erupted on Saturday night after a gunman armed with “multiple weapons” tried to charge a dinner at Washington DC attended by US President Donald Trump.
The incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner saw the US President, who had been the previous target of an assassination attempt, swiftly evacuated by Secret Service agents along with other senior members of the administration. One officer, who was shot but protected by his bulletproof vest, was taken to hospital.
The suspect, said to have been carrying a shotgun and handgun, has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.
Chaos erupted in Washington DC on Saturday (Image: Getty)
He is understood to have been a guest in the Washington Hilton hotel where the event was being held and faces charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, but acting attorney general Todd Blanche said additional charges will be filed.
Mr Trump posted pictures on his Truth Social platform of the alleged assailant handcuffed on the ground following his detention and promised to reschedule the disrupted event.
He said: “My impression is he was a lone wolf whack job. These are crazy people.”
The armed assault comes just days before the state visit by the King and Queen, where they are due to meet Mr Trump and attend a White House banquet.
It is not clear yet, at the time of writing, whether there will be any changes to the King’s state visit.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said in a statement: "His Majesty is being kept fully informed of developments and is greatly relieved to hear that the President, First Lady and all guests have been unharmed. As you would expect, a number of discussions will be taking place throughout the day to discuss with US colleagues and our respective teams to what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the Visit."
However, Chief Secretary to the Prime 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.”
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the incident was “an attack on democracy”.
Mr Philp told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: “”t’s always shocking when a democratically elected politician gets attacked in this way – it’s an attack not just on an individual, but an attack on democracy.
“I’m pleased, of course, that Donald Trump is unharmed and that the perpetrator has been apprehended.”
The Washington Hilton has been the location of a previous attempted presidential assassination when then-president Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr outside the hotel in 1981.
