Cole Allen's initial court appearance heard the agent fired five shots as the gunman tried to storm the White House correspondents' dinner on Saturday.

His shots missed, but the agent himself took a bullet to his Kevlar vest.

"This heroic officer who was hit fired five times at Allen, who was not shot but fell to the ground and was promptly arrested," said acting attorney general Todd Blanche.

Mr Blanche would not disclose details of who was responsible for hitting the agent - who survived - but said the attacker had fired at least once.

"The defendant fired out of his shotgun - we know that happened. But as far as getting into exacting ballistics, I'm not going to do that today," he told reporters.

Allen, 31, also had knives and a pistol as he tried to make it into the dining room where the president and his top team were attending the annual fundraising dinner.

The suspect was seen sprinting through the lobby but was stopped before he could enter and US officials have painted it as a security success.

President Trump and his cabinet - including the secretary of war, secretary of state and vice president - were all bundled out as reporters ducked under tables.

Allen, from Torrance, California, has been charged with the attempted assassination of the president and two other federal charges, with prosecutors expected to file further charges as the investigation continues.

He allegedly booked a room at the hotel where the dinner was taking place after travelling cross-country by train.

Allen did not respond to the allegations at the brief hearing on Monday, but his lawyer said he had no previous arrests or convictions.

The alleged gunman has a mechanical engineering degree from the prestigious California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, according to his LinkedIn profile.

The Secret Service was heavily criticised for the attempt on Mr Trump's life in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, when a gunman was able to get on a roof with a clear sight of the president.

Saturday's incident appears to be the third attempt on his life following another in which a man hid in bushes on a Florida golf course in September 2024.

Ryan Routh was convicted and earlier this year, sentenced to life in prison over the murder plot.