Secret Service thwarts attack at Trump dinner as conspiracy theories surge online

A gunman's thwarted attack at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday evening sparked immediate chaos and, within minutes, a flood of conspiracy theories across social media platforms. The alleged shooter, 31-year-old Cole Allen, was taken into custody after attempting to breach the ballroom at the Washington Hilton where President Trump and Cabinet officials were gathered. While a Secret Service officer was struck by a bullet, the attack was contained and no one was seriously injured. Yet rather than focusing on the security breach itself, online discourse quickly shifted—with some users claiming the incident was fabricated or "staged" to serve Trump's political interests.