The Steady Drip: Trump: Secret Service Thwarts Armed Attack at WH Dinner (Connecting the Dots: Hilton, The Blackstone Group & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

Trump: Secret Service Thwarts Armed Attack at WH Dinner (Connecting the Dots: Hilton, The Blackstone Group & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

By Newsmax Wires | Saturday, 25 April 2026 11:05 PM EDT

President Donald Trump answers reporter questions in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after an unspecified threat at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington on Saturday, April 25. (Tom Brenner/AP)

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/donald-trump-secret-service-thwarts/2026/04/25/id/1254193/

President Donald Trump on Saturday night praised the "incredible" response of Secret Service and law enforcement after a gunman armed with multiple weapons attempted to breach security at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, calling the swift action a testament to the courage protecting the nation.

Speaking shortly after being evacuated from the Washington Hilton, Trump described the dramatic scene as both dangerous and, in an unexpected way, unifying.

"A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of Secret Service," Trump said at the White House. "They acted very quickly."

According to Trump, one Secret Service agent was shot at close range during the confrontation but was saved by a bulletproof vest.

The president said he personally spoke with the agent, who was "in great shape" and in high spirits after the incident.

Trump also ordered the release of video footage of the attack, emphasizing transparency and showcasing what he called the professionalism and bravery of law enforcement.

He described the suspect as a "thug" who "attacked our Constitution," framing the incident as part of a broader pattern of political violence in recent years.

The shooting occurred outside the ballroom during the annual dinner — often dubbed the "Nerd Prom" — which Trump noted was intended to celebrate free speech and bring together political leaders and the media.

Despite the chaos, Trump said the moment revealed a rare sense of unity.

"I saw a room that was just totally unified … Republicans, Democrats, independents … there was a tremendous amount of love," he said.

Secondary reports from Reuters and AFP confirm the suspect was apprehended near a security checkpoint before reaching the main event space, likely preventing further harm.

Guests inside the ballroom dove under tables as security teams moved swiftly to secure the area.

Trump used the incident to renew calls for enhanced security measures in Washington, pointing to the need for a more secure White House ballroom facility with modern protections such as bulletproof glass and anti-drone capabilities.

"This is why we need levels of security that probably nobody has ever seen before," he said.

The president also referenced previous assassination attempts against him, including the 2024 rally shooting in Pennsylvania and another thwarted incident in Florida, underscoring what he described as an ongoing threat environment.

Despite the attack, Trump made clear he would not allow violence to disrupt public life or silence national events.

"We're not going to let anybody take over our society," he said, vowing to reschedule the dinner within 30 days.

Authorities continue to investigate the suspect, while Trump called on Americans to resolve political differences peacefully — even as he reaffirmed a strong commitment to law and order.

Christopher J. Nassetta

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_J._Nassetta#Hilton

Christopher J. Nassetta (born 1964) is an American businessman who has served as president and chief executive officer of Hilton since 2007.[1] Under his leadership, Hilton has expanded from approximately 3,700 properties to more than 7,600 properties across 126 countries and territories, and was named the No. 1 World's Best Workplace by Fortune and Great Place to Work.[2] In June 2022, Nassetta was included on the International Hospitality Institute's list of the 100 Most Powerful People in Global Hospitality.

Early life and education

Nassetta was born in 1964 in Arlington, Virginia.[1] He attended Yorktown High School in Arlington before enrolling at the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance in 1984.[4] He subsequently undertook coursework in international finance at the London School of Economics.[1] Nassetta continues to serve on the McIntire School of Commerce Advisory Board.

When he was 16, he worked at a Holiday Inn on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. in the engineering department.

Early career

After graduating from the University of Virginia, Nassetta joined The Oliver Carr Company, one of the largest commercial real estate firms in the Mid-Atlantic region, where he spent seven years and rose to the position of chief development officer. In this role he was responsible for all development activities for the firm.^[4][1]

In 1991, Nassetta co-founded Bailey Capital Corporation, a private real estate investment and advisory firm. He oversaw the firm's operations, directing investment activities focused on the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, until 1995.

Hilton

On October 29, 2007, shortly after The Blackstone Group's $26 billion leveraged buyout of Hilton Hotels Corporation, Nassetta was appointed president and CEO of Hilton.^[1] Jonathan Gray, then Blackstone's head of global real estate, recruited Nassetta to lead the company's turnaround.^[6]

Nassetta assumed the role amid the global financial crisis, during which Blackstone was forced to write down the value of its Hilton investment by approximately 70 percent.^[7]

In 2023, Nassetta's total compensation from Hilton Worldwide was $26.6 million, up 13% from the previous year and representing a CEO-to-median worker pay ratio of 549-to-1 for that year.

Connecting the Dots:

Christopher J. Nassetta is an American businessman who has served as president and chief executive officer of Hilton since 2007, he subsequently undertook coursework in international finance at the London School of Economics and graduated from the University of Virginia.

The Blackstone Group's $26 billion leveraged buyout of Hilton Hotels Corporation.

Blackstone Group was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Jonathan D. Gray is a director & global head of real estate for the Blackstone Group and was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Mark T. Gallogly was a senior managing director for the Blackstone Group and a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Glenn H. Hutchins was a general partner at the Blackstone Group and a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Friends of Saudi Arabia was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Abdulaziz bin Abdullah is a co-founder for the Friends of Saudi Arabia and the deputy minister of foreign affairs for Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Turki bin Faisal Al Saud is a prince of Saudi Arabia, was William J. Clinton’s classmate at Georgetown and a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Turki bin Faisal Al Saud is a prince of Saudi Arabia, was an intelligence chief for Saudi Arabia and a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Victor P. Dahdaleh was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation and is a court of governor’s member for the London School of Economics.

Chelsea V. Clinton is the vice chair for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation and married to Marc Mezvinsky.

Marc Mezvinsky is married to Chelsea V. Clinton and was an investment banker for Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

Ronald O. Perelman was a funder, 2013 fundraiser chair for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation and a 740 Park Avenue, New York resident.

Edgar M. Bronfman was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation and a 740 Park Avenue, New York resident.

Stephen A. Schwarzman is a 740 Park Avenue, New York resident and the chairman & CEO & co-founder for the Blackstone Group.

Henry R. Kravis was a 740 Park Avenue, New York resident and is married to Marie-Josee Kravis.

Marie-Josee Kravis is married to Henry R. Kravis and was a director at the Robin Hood Foundation.

Paul Tudor Jones II is a director at the Robin Hood Foundation and was a benefactor for the University of Virginia.

John A. Thain is a duplex owner at 740 Park Avenue, New York and was the president & COO for the Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

Steven T. Mnuchin is a resident at 740 Park Avenue, New York and was the EVP & CIO for the Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

Jon S. Corzine was a chairman & CEO for the Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Blackstone Group was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

David M. Solomon is a co-head of investment banking for the Goldman Sachs Group Inc., a director at the Robin Hood Foundation and was a leadership council member for the Robin Hood Foundation.

Daniel S. Och was a trader for the Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and is a director at the Robin Hood Foundation.

Peter D. Kiernan III was a senior partner at the Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and is a director at the Robin Hood Foundation.

Clifford S. Asness was a managing director for the Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and a leadership council member for the Robin Hood Foundation.

Lloyd C. Blankfein is the chairman & CEO for the Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and was a director at the Robin Hood Foundation.

Henry M. Paulson Jr. was the chairman & CEO for the Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and is a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation.

Emma Bloomberg is a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, Michael R. Bloomberg’ daughter and was the chief of staff for the Robin Hood Foundation.

Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation, Emma Bloomberg’s father and was a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Robin Hood Foundation and the Aspen Institute (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

David H. Koch is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a 740 Park Avenue, New York resident.

James S. Crown is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and Lester Crown’s son.

Lester Crown was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), is James S. Crown & Steven Crown’s father and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

A. Steven Crown is Lester Crown’s son, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and was a director at Hilton Worldwide.

R. Eden Martin is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago and counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Newton N. Minow was a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Blackstone Group was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

The Blackstone Group's $26 billion leveraged buyout of Hilton Hotels Corporation.

Wesley K. Clark is a senior adviser for the Blackstone Group and a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

John J. Studzinski is the vice chairman for the Blackstone Group and a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

John J. Studzinski is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a senior managing director at the Blackstone Group.

Blackstone Group was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

The Blackstone Group's $26 billion leveraged buyout of Hilton Hotels Corporation.

Stephen A. Schwarzman is the chairman & CEO & co-founder for the Blackstone Group and a founding member of the Core club.

Ari Emanuel is a founding member of the Core club and Rahm I. Emanuel’s brother.

Rahm I. Emanuel is Ari Emanuel’s brother, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, was the Chicago (IL) mayor and was the White House chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration.

A. Steven Crown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, Lester Crown’s son and was a director at Hilton Worldwide.