John Hinckley Jr., known for his attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan, described as “spooky” the news of an alleged assassination attempt on President Donald Trump at the same Washington, D.C., hotel, according to a recent report.
The alleged plot against President Trump unfolded during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner held at the Washington Hilton on a Saturday night.
Officials reported that Cole Allen, a 32-year-old from Torrance, California, entered the venue and opened fire before being apprehended. The incident left a Secret Service agent wounded.
In response to the attack, Secret Service agents promptly evacuated President Trump, the First Lady, and Cabinet members from the hotel, while journalists in attendance sought cover.
A historical note: President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. outside the Washington Hilton on March 30, 1981, shortly after waving to onlookers. This moment was captured by White House photographers.
Speaking to TMZ, Hinckley Jr. expressed his eerie reaction upon learning that the recent incident occurred at the same location as his infamous act. He learned of the event through a news alert on his phone and subsequently turned on the television for more details.
Members of law enforcement control shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (Alex Brandon / AP)
Hinckley said the security at the Washington Hilton is too “lax” and the hotel should not be hosting large-scale events.
That is the same hotel where he shot Reagan and three other victims in 1981.
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John Hinckley Jr. mugshot taken on March 30, 1981. (Bureau of Prisons/Getty Images)
Hinckley had an obsession with actress Jodie Foster and wrote her a letter telling her he wanted to shoot Reagan.
The assassination attempt failed — and Hinckley was arrested, tried and found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1982. The court ordered him to live at a psychiatric hospital up until his release in 2022.
President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026, following the cancellation of the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner due to a shooting. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
Fox News Digital reached out to the Washington Hilton.
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