Secret Service officers rushed U.S. President Donald Trump out of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night after a shooting incident.
The gunfire erupted just after 8:30 p.m., about 20 minutes after Trump and First Lady Melania made their grand entrance into the hotel ballroom.
Also in attendance were Vice President James Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, along with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and many top Trump administration officials and lawmakers.
The president is safe, and no injuries have been reported. Law enforcement sources confirmed the gunman was shot and detained.
He was intercepted at the metal detectors outside the ballroom, where Trump and numerous dignitaries were set to address the press corps.
Speaking to reporters at the White House after the evacuation, Trump said the suspect was armed with multiple weapons but was stopped by Secret Service. He added that an officer was shot but protected by a bulletproof vest.
“He was shot from very close range with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job,” Trump said.
Trump also posted on Truth Social that the dinner will be rescheduled within 30 days:
“Law enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do immediately. The First Lady, the Vice President, and all Cabinet members are in perfect condition. We will be speaking to you in a half hour… we will be rescheduling within 30 days.”
Earlier, Trump praised law enforcement and Secret Service for their “fantastic job.”
Organizers initially wanted the gala to continue but canceled the event by 9:45 p.m.
This marked Trump’s first attendance at the gala since 2011, and his first as a former president.
Outside the hotel, pro-Palestine protesters waved flags and held signs reading “Media lies, Gaza dies” and “No war for Israel.”
