King Charles's planned US state visithas come under fresh scrutiny after a suspected gunman opened fire at theWhite House Correspondents' Association dinnerin Washington on Saturday night, forcing Donald Trump and senior members of his administration to evacuate just days before the king and queen are due to arrive in the US. There is no confirmation that King Charles will cancel the trip, but ministers say security arrangements are being taken 'very seriously.'
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Bound to trigger review’: White House shooting casts shadow over King Charles and Queen Camilla US visithttps://t.co/ltexvOCcdq
The attack occurred only a day before the state visit was due to begin on Monday, with the king and queen scheduled to meet Trump and attend a White House banquet on Tuesday. That timing matters. It places an already sensitive royal visit under harsher scrutiny, not because officials have said it is in jeopardy, but because a violent breach at a high-profile Washington event has a way of stripping official reassurances to their bare essentials.
The Government's line on Sunday was firm, if deliberately spare. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, saidSir Keir Starmer had sent Trump a message of solidarityafter what he called 'remarkable scenes,' adding that British and American teams were working closely to ensure security arrangements were properly in place.
Pressed on whether the shooting had raised additional concerns for the king's safety, Jones did not suggest any retreat. Instead, he said the government and the palace take the king's security 'very seriously' and confirmed that discussions had already been extensive and would continue over the coming days.
Asked on the BBC whether that meant an escalation, he kept it tight, saying there would be 'appropriate security in place in relation to the risk.'
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on security matters, which is standard practice and, in moments like this, also a useful reminder that the most important decisions are often those made entirely out of sight. Publicly, there is still no indication the visit is being called off.
The facts of the Washington shooting explain why the mood shifted so quickly. The dinner at the Washington Hilton descended into chaos when a man allegedly armed with a shotgun and handgun charged a security checkpoint.
🚨 SHOTS FIRED AT THE WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER!Armed gunman Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of California charged through security targeting Trump officials. President Trump and Melania safely evacuated. Suspect IN CUSTODY.Secret Service acted FAST and BRAVE.pic.twitter.com/JiLsJkS44G
An officer was shot but protected by a bulletproof vest and taken to hospital. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, was arrested and faces charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, with acting US attorney general Todd Blanche saying further charges would follow.
Source: International Business Times UK
