The Secret Service officer who helped stop an armed man from reaching President Donald Trump will be honored when the White House Correspondents’ Association reconvenes its interrupted annual dinner Friday.
Secret Service Police Officer Victor Gonzales will receive the WHCA’s “President’s Award for Exceptional Service” during the July 24 event in Washington, the association announced Tuesday. The staff of the Washington Hilton will also receive the award for assisting guests during the attack and its chaotic aftermath.
Gonzales was stationed at a security checkpoint outside the Hilton ballroom on April 25 when authorities say Cole Tomas Allen charged through a magnetometer carrying a shotgun.
According to the Justice Department, Allen fired at Gonzales and struck him in the chest. Gonzales’ ballistic vest absorbed the shot, allowing him to return fire and help prevent the suspect from advancing toward the ballroom.
Allen fell to the ground and suffered minor injuries, although authorities said he was not struck by Gonzales’ gunfire. Officers arrested him and recovered a 12-gauge shotgun and a .38-caliber pistol, according to court documents released by the Justice Department.
President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other senior administration officials were evacuated from the dinner. No one inside the ballroom was injured.
“Officer Gonzales played a significant role when he ran toward danger so that thousands of others could make it home safely,” WHCA President Weijia Jiang said in the association’s announcement.
Gonzales, a Texas native, served five years in the Marine Corps before joining the Secret Service Police in 2022. His assignments have included protecting the White House complex and securing major public events.
Allen, 31, has pleaded not guilty to four federal charges, including attempting to assassinate the president, assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon and two firearms offenses. Prosecutors allege he traveled from California to Washington with weapons and a plan to target Trump and other administration officials.
The Washington Hilton staff will be recognized for remaining at their posts and helping guests after the dinner was abruptly canceled. Kitchen workers also preserved more than 2,000 unserved meals so they could be donated to local shelters, the WHCA said.
Friday’s rescheduled dinner will be held at the Waldorf Astoria, located in the former Trump International Hotel. Organizers have promised enhanced security and new access procedures for the smaller gathering.
Trump encouraged the association to reschedule the event after the attack, declaring that Americans could not allow violent individuals “to change our way of life, or even its scheduling.”
The president is expected to deliver remarks Friday. The program will also honor journalism award recipients and scholarship winners, feature a salute to the First Amendment and include entertainment from mentalist Oz Pearlman.
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