Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva extended his support to Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on Sunday, following a shooting that took place during the 105th Annual White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night.
In a message posted on his X account, Lula strongly condemned the attack with direct words: "My solidarity goes out to President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and everyone present at the Correspondents' Dinner in Washington. Brazil firmly denounces last night's attack. Political violence is an affront to the democratic values we all must protect."
This gesture carries particular political significance, given the recent diplomatic tensions between Brazil and the United States.
Just days before the incident, Lula had referred to Trump as a "warlord" during a speech at the United Nations Security Council in Barcelona, where he also called for an end to the embargo on Cuba. On April 19, Brazil, Spain, and Mexico issued a joint statement urging respect for Cuba's "territorial integrity," openly contradicting Washington's policy.
Details of the Incident
The shooting occurred at 8:36 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, when Cole Thomas Allen, a 31-year-old resident of Torrance, California, burst into the hotel armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives, where the event was attended by approximately 2,600 people.
Allen, who had checked in as a hotel guest earlier, fired between five to eight shots before being subdued and arrested by Secret Service agents and Washington D.C. police.
Trump was evacuated from the stage at 8:33 p.m., three minutes before the shooting began, along with Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and several cabinet members, including Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, and Tulsi Gabbard.
A Secret Service agent sustained minor injuries when a bullet struck his bulletproof vest. Fortunately, there were no fatalities among the attendees.
Aftermath and Reactions
Trump returned to the White House around 9:45 p.m. and held a press conference early Sunday. In his usual tone, the president commented, "Nobody told me this job was so dangerous."
Interim Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated that preliminary findings suggest Allen was targeting Trump and senior officials in his administration. Trump himself described the suspect as a "lone wolf" motivated by "strong, anti-Christian hate," according to a manifesto Allen left before the attack.
Cuban-American Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, who was among the attendees, recounted seeking shelter under a table upon recognizing the gunfire, drawing on her experience as a war journalist.
Other Latin American leaders also responded. Argentine President Javier Milei called the incident a "new assassination attempt" against Trump, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on X: "Violence should never be the way."
Cole Thomas Allen is scheduled to appear before a judge in Washington on Monday, facing charges of shooting, illegal possession of weapons, and assault.
Key Questions About the Washington Shooting Incident
What prompted Lula to express solidarity with Trump?
Lula expressed solidarity with Trump following a shooting incident during the White House Correspondents' Dinner, condemning the attack and denouncing political violence as an affront to democratic values.
What were Lula's recent comments about Trump?
Prior to the shooting incident, Lula had called Trump a "warlord" during a speech at the UN Security Council in Barcelona and criticized U.S. policy towards Cuba.
Who was the perpetrator of the shooting?
The shooter was identified as Cole Thomas Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, who was arrested after opening fire at the Washington Hilton Hotel.