WASHINGTON D.C. – An incident involving gunfire near the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday evening led to the swift evacuation of President Donald Trump and other high-profile attendees from the Washington Hilton hotel. A suspect is reportedly in custody, and at least one Secret Service agent sustained injuries. The event, a long-standing tradition bringing together the American press corps and political figures, was abruptly halted by the security scare.
Reports indicate that multiple shots were fired outside the ballroom where the dinner was taking place. Witnesses described hearing the gunfire, with some accounts suggesting between five and six shots. The timeline places the incident shortly after President Trump and the First Lady made their entrance and as the dinner service was underway.
Following the disturbance, President Trump stated on Truth Social that he and his Cabinet were safe. He indicated plans for a press conference from the White House. The dinner itself is expected to be rescheduled within 30 days. Vice President JD Vance and several Cabinet members, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert K. Kennedy, Jr., were also in attendance and were safely evacuated.
Read More: Gunfire near Correspondents' Dinner; Trump evacuated
Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, confirmed their response to a shooting incident. The Secret Service is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the event, which occurred near a security screening area. Details regarding the shooter's motive and the exact sequence of events remain under investigation.
The White House Correspondents' Association President, Weija Jiang, acknowledged the incident and confirmed the dinner would resume at a later date. The annual dinner typically marks an occasion to highlight the relationship between the presidency and the press, though President Trump’s attendance this year was noted given his administration’s often-contentious interactions with news organizations. His absence from the dinner during his first term and the initial year of his second had been a point of observation.
