Donald Trump has insisted King Charles “will be very safe” ahead of the monarch’s State Visit this week.
While the US President has talked up his excitement for seeing his “friend” King Charles once again, the trip falls on the backdrop of a shooting scare in Washington DC.
While gunshots rang out around the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance were swiftly whisked away to safety, and a federal officer suffered a gunshot wound from close range, though he has since been discharged from hospital.
The suspect of the attack, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, from Torrance, California, is due to appear in court today, where he is expected to be formally charged with assault of a federal officer and using a firearm during a crime of violence.
The FBI’s criminal investigation and terrorism task force are investigating the incident.
Despite the scare, in an interview with CBS News, President Trump insisted he “wasn’t worried”.
“I understand life. We live in a crazy world,” he told the outlet.
The incident, thought to be an attempt on the President’s life, prompted a response from Buckingham Palace, which confirmed the visit would “proceed as planned”.
Despite the scare, in an interview with CBS News, President Trump insisted he ‘wasn’t worried’
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CBS NEWS
“The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the Visit getting underway tomorrow,” the statement, released on Sunday, read.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told GB News earlier that the situation was “very concerning” and security would need to be “further strengthened”.
Speaking to the American outlet, President Trump once again expressed his excitement for the trip and maintained: “He’ll be very safe.”
“The White House grounds are really safe,” he added. “This area of not very many acres, it’s really safe. And he’ll be staying here.
Guests take cover after Donald and Melania Trump were rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner by Secret Service agents | REUTERS
The suspect of the attack, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, from Torrance, California, is due to appear in court today
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REUTERS
“Now, I believe he’s going to a couple of other locations, because he’s here for a few days, and he’s a great guy.
“Oh, they called, and they are so looking forward to being here. We spoke this morning.”
The President used the opportunity to call for a review of his plans to build a new White House ballroom. A judge halted the construction of the proposed £296million plans earlier this month.
“I have to say it’s not a safe ballroom,” he said. “I’m building a safe ballroom.
Donald Trump has insisted King Charles ‘will be very safe’ ahead of the monarch’s State Visit this week
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GETTY“And one of the reasons I’m building it is exactly what happened last night. We’re building a room right there.
“If you walk out and move 20 yards to the left, you’ll be right at the entrance to the ballroom. And that ballroom is being built on the safest piece of property in this country, probably one of the safest pieces of land in the world.”
The 90,000 sq ft plans would fit up to 999 people inside and mark the most significant structural change to the White House in more than 70 years.